MedImmune
 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Pharmaceutical |
| Founded | 1988 (as Molecular Vaccines, Inc.) 1989 (as MedImmune, Inc.) |
| Headquarters | Gaithersburg, Maryland, U.S. |
| Products | Synagis FluMist |
| Parent | AstraZeneca |
| Website | www.medimmune.com[dead link] |
MedImmune, LLC was a wholly owned subsidiary of AstraZeneca before February 14, 2019, when it was announced that the MedImmune name and branding would be discontinued in favor of AstraZeneca.[1][2]
MedImmune was founded in 1988 as Molecular Vaccines, Inc, and was purchased in 2007 for $15.6 billion.[3] Its main offices were located in Gaithersburg, MD, Cambridge, UK, and Mountain View, CA.[4]
It produced Synagis, a drug for the prevention of respiratory infections in infants, which accounted for US$ 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.[5]
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—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.[6]
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[edit]
Molecular Vaccines, Inc. was founded by Wayne T. Hockmeyer, David Mott, and Dr. James Young in 1988.[6] In 1989, Molecular Vaccines, Inc changed its name to MedImmune, Inc.
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.[6] 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.[7] AstraZeneca chose to merge MedImmune with Cambridge Antibody Technology, which it had acquired in 2006, creating a new biologics division under the MedImmune name. AstraZeneca presented the new MedImmune to investors on 7 December 2007.[8]
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.[9]
MedImmune said it was making a significant, rapid response with a vaccine to the novel H1N1 variant of influenza, known as swine flu.[10] 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.[5] MedImmune then won a second contract to test its nasal spray flu technology as a viable treatment for the H1N1.[11]
MedImmune received approval from the U.S. FDA for its intranasal novel H1N1 influenza vaccine in September 2009.[10]
Pipeline[edit]
MedImmune had over 120 drugs in development for conditions including lupus, COPD, asthma, and many types of cancer. Major phase III trials included:[12]
- durvalumab (anti-PD-L1)
- tremelimumab (anti-CTLA-4)
- moxetumomab pasudotox (anti-CD22)
- benralizumab (anti-IL-5R)
- tralokinumab (anti-IL-13)
- anifrolumab (anti-IFN-aR)
- nirsevimab (anti-RSV)
See also[edit]
References and notes[edit]
- ^ "12 years on, Astra draws a line under Medimmune". Evaluate.com. 2019-02-14. Retrieved 2019-02-15.
- ^ "AstraZeneca retires Medimmune name amid sales turnaround". BioPharma Dive. Retrieved 2019-02-16.
- ^ Pollack, Andrew (24 April 2007). "AstraZeneca Buys MedImmune for $15.6 Billion". Retrieved 2 June 2019 – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ "About Us | MedImmune". Archived from the original on 2017-08-30. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
- ^ a b Michael S. Rosenwald (June 2, 2009). "MedImmune Wins Key Contract To Develop Swine Flu Vaccine". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 23, 2009.
- ^ a b c
- Medimmune Company Site
- Flumist nasal flu vaccine - Official website
- Bishop, Tricia. "MedImmune loss in '05 quadruples shortfall from '04" Baltimore Sun. 3 February 2006.
- Rosenwald, Michael S. "Sales of MedImmune's Flu Vaccine Drop Sharply" Washington Post. 3 February 2006.
- ^ "AstraZeneca's $15 Billion Buy of MedImmune buy too costly, some say". Money.cnn.com. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
- ^ "Media Centre - AstraZeneca". Astrazeneca.com. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
- ^ MedImmune Press release MedImmune and National Institutes of Health Begin Clinical Testing of a Live, Attenuated Intranasal Vaccine Against an H5N1 Avian Influenza Virus published June 15, 2007
- ^ a b "MedImmune Influenza A (H1N1) Information". Archived from the original on September 24, 2009. Retrieved October 23, 2009.
- ^ Sinha, Vandana (13 July 2009). "MedImmune gets second H1N1 flu contract".
- ^ "Pipeline - AstraZeneca". Astrazeneca.com. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
External links[edit]
- Companies based in Gaithersburg, Maryland
- Biotechnology companies of the United States
- Health care companies based in Maryland
- Vaccine producers
- AstraZeneca
- Biotechnology companies established in 1988
- Pharmaceutical companies established in 1988
- 2007 mergers and acquisitions
- American subsidiaries of foreign companies