MedImmune
Encyclopedia
MedImmune, LLC, headquartered in Gaithersburg
, Maryland
, became a wholly owned subsidiary of AstraZeneca
in 2007. Since being acquired, MedImmune has remained a Maryland-based biotechnology
development enterprise. It produces Synagis
, a drug for the prevention of respiratory infections in infants, which accounted for US$
1.06 billion of its US$
1.2 billion in revenue for 2005, and FluMist
, a nasal spray
influenza vaccine introduced in 2004. MedImmune acquired FluMist when it purchased Aviron in 2002 for US$
1.5 billion. FluMist sales totaled US$
104 million in 2008, US$
54.8 million in 2007, and US$
36.4 million in 2006.
FluMist was approved for children two years of age and older in 2007, but initially was approved only for healthy people ages 5 to 49, a significant limitation because it eliminated a significant market—the millions of young children who find injections objectionable. Sales of FluMist fell short of analysts' expectations for the first two years the drug was sold. FluMist was initially sold in a frozen form, which was difficult for doctors to store.
MedImmune conducted successful clinical trials for a new generation of FluMist needle-free vaccine, called CAIV-T, which was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2007, and is now the form offered on the market.
On April 23, 2007 it was announced MedImmune and AstraZeneca
entered into a definitive agreement under which AstraZeneca intended to acquire MedImmune in an all cash transaction at US$
58 per share, or about US$
15.2 billion. On 19 June 2007 AstraZeneca completed the acquisition paying US$
15.2 billion primarily for its drug development pipeline. Analysts have criticised the take-over, claiming that AstraZeneca paid too much. AstraZeneca chose to merge MedImmune with Cambridge Antibody Technology
, which it had acquired in 2007, creating a new biologics division under the MedImmune name. AstraZeneca presented the new MedImmune to investors on 7 December 2007.
In June 2007, the National Institutes of Health
(NIH) began enrolling participants in a Phase 1 H5N1 study
of an intranasal influenza vaccine candidate based on MedImmune's live, attenuated vaccine technology.
MedImmune said it was making a significant, rapid response with a vaccine to the novel H1N1
variant of influenza, known as swine flu
. In June 2009 it won a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) contract, worth $90m. Under the contract with HHS, MedImmune will continue to make its seasonal FluMist vaccine and also develop a vaccine targeted specifically at the novel H1N1 virus. MedImmune then won a second contract to test its nasal spray flu technology as a viable treatment for the H1N1.
MedImmune received approval from the U.S. FDA for its intranasal novel H1N1 influenza virus in September 2009.
Gaithersburg, Maryland
Gaithersburg is a city in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. The city had a population of 59,933 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest incorporated city in the state, behind Baltimore, Frederick, and Rockville...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, became a wholly owned subsidiary of AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca plc is a global pharmaceutical and biologics company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's seventh-largest pharmaceutical company measured by revenues and has operations in over 100 countries...
in 2007. Since being acquired, MedImmune has remained a Maryland-based biotechnology
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology also utilizes these products for manufacturing purpose...
development enterprise. It produces Synagis
Palivizumab
Palivizumab is a monoclonal antibody produced by recombinant DNA technology. It is used in the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infections...
, a drug for the prevention of respiratory infections in infants, which accounted for US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
1.06 billion of its US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
1.2 billion in revenue for 2005, and FluMist
FluMist
FluMist is a nasal spray influenza vaccine manufactured by MedImmune, Inc. that was first introduced in 2003. It was the first and the only live attenuated vaccine for influenza available outside of Europe. It is also called live attenuated influenza vaccine . In September 2009 a LAIV intranasal...
, a nasal spray
Nasal spray
Nasal sprays come in a variety of forms. Medicated such as Astelin, Afrin and Nasonex and natural such as Sinusoothe and Sterimar. Although delivery methods vary, most nasal sprays function by instilling a fine mist into the nostril by action of a hand-operated pump mechanism.-Antihistamine nasal...
influenza vaccine introduced in 2004. MedImmune acquired FluMist when it purchased Aviron in 2002 for US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
1.5 billion. FluMist sales totaled US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
104 million in 2008, US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
54.8 million in 2007, and US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
36.4 million in 2006.
FluMist was approved for children two years of age and older in 2007, but initially was approved only for healthy people ages 5 to 49, a significant limitation because it eliminated a significant market—the millions of young children who find injections objectionable. Sales of FluMist fell short of analysts' expectations for the first two years the drug was sold. FluMist was initially sold in a frozen form, which was difficult for doctors to store.
MedImmune conducted successful clinical trials for a new generation of FluMist needle-free vaccine, called CAIV-T, which was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2007, and is now the form offered on the market.
History
Molecular Vaccines, Inc. was founded by Wayne T. Hockmeyer in 1988. In 1989 MedImmune is incorporated under the name Molecular Vaccines, Inc and the name is changed to MedImmune, Inc.On April 23, 2007 it was announced MedImmune and AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca plc is a global pharmaceutical and biologics company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's seventh-largest pharmaceutical company measured by revenues and has operations in over 100 countries...
entered into a definitive agreement under which AstraZeneca intended to acquire MedImmune in an all cash transaction at US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
58 per share, or about US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
15.2 billion. On 19 June 2007 AstraZeneca completed the acquisition paying US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
15.2 billion primarily for its drug development pipeline. Analysts have criticised the take-over, claiming that AstraZeneca paid too much. AstraZeneca chose to merge MedImmune with Cambridge Antibody Technology
Cambridge Antibody Technology
Cambridge Antibody Technology was a biotechnology company headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom...
, which it had acquired in 2007, creating a new biologics division under the MedImmune name. AstraZeneca presented the new MedImmune to investors on 7 December 2007.
In June 2007, the National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
(NIH) began enrolling participants in a Phase 1 H5N1 study
H5N1 clinical trials
H5N1 clinical trials are clinical trials concerning H5N1 vaccines. They are intended to discover pharmacological effects and identify any adverse reactions the vaccines may achieve in humans.-Current status of H5N1 candidate vaccines:...
of an intranasal influenza vaccine candidate based on MedImmune's live, attenuated vaccine technology.
MedImmune said it was making a significant, rapid response with a vaccine to the novel H1N1
Pandemic H1N1/09 virus
The Pandemic H1N1/09 virus is a swine origin Influenza A virus subtype H1N1 virus strain responsible for the 2009 flu pandemic. For other names see the Nomenclature section below.-Virus characteristics:...
variant of influenza, known as swine flu
2009 flu pandemic
The 2009 flu pandemic was an influenza pandemic, and the second of the two pandemics involving H1N1 influenza virus , albeit in a new version...
. In June 2009 it won a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) contract, worth $90m. Under the contract with HHS, MedImmune will continue to make its seasonal FluMist vaccine and also develop a vaccine targeted specifically at the novel H1N1 virus. MedImmune then won a second contract to test its nasal spray flu technology as a viable treatment for the H1N1.
MedImmune received approval from the U.S. FDA for its intranasal novel H1N1 influenza virus in September 2009.