Cambridge Biotech

Cambridge Biotech Corporation was a pioneering biotechnology company focused on the development of diagnostic tests and vaccines for infectious diseases, most notably HIV. Founded in 1981 and based in Worcester, Massachusetts, the company was the first to receive FDA approval for a Western blot kit to confirm HIV-1 infection. It also developed the widely used QS-21 (Stimulon) adjuvant, which remains a critical component in several modern vaccines, including those for shingles and malaria. Following financial difficulties and a high-profile patent dispute with the Institut Pasteur, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1994 and was subsequently reorganized. Its diagnostic business was acquired by bioMérieux, while its vaccine and adjuvant business became Aquila Biopharmaceuticals, which was later acquired by Agenus.