Active's ETEC vaccine disappoints

Active Biotech (SSE:ACTI) announced disappointing results of the first Phase III trial of its enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) vaccine to treat travelers' diarrhea, while a competing earlier-stage product continues to progress through development.

ACTI said the 671-patient Phase III trial in Guatemala and Mexico did not meet its primary end point of protecting travelers from diarrhea caused by ETEC infections. The company will not submit a European marketing application for the vaccine this year, as was planned. ACTI was down SKK119 (42 percent) to SKK165 ($19.34) on Wednesday. A second Phase III trial, being run with partner SmithKline Beecham Biologicals, has enrolled 200 travelers, with enrollment expected to be completed this summer. ...