ACE's Campylobacter diarrhea vacc enters Ph IIb trial

Odense, Denmark-based ACE BioSciences has begun a landmark Phase IIb proof-of-concept study with ACE393, the world's first commercial Campylobacter travellers' diarrhea vaccine. An interim primary outcome analysis will be complete by March 2009, at which point ACE hopes to be in a strong position to find a partner.

Company chief executive Ingelise Saunders said: "this is a milestone for ACE BioSciences and in the fight against Campylobacter infection. ACE has worked with the US Naval Medical Research Center to establish the first Campylobacter challenge model that satisfies the US Food and Drug Administration's current safety requirements. The ability to evaluate our vaccine safely gives us clear competitive advantage and we are confident that ACE393 will be the first commercial vaccine to combat this common and debilitating bacterial disease."

The firm estimates that the annual global commercial market for a Campylobacter vaccine is worth 350.0 million euros ($448.8 million), while the military market represents another big opportunity.