- Preclinical Study Published in Journal of Virology Shows Candidate
Vaccine Induces Protective Immune Response Against Two Leading
Pediatric Respiratory Viruses -
GAITHERSBURG, Md., Oct. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MedImmune, Inc.
(Nasdaq: MEDI) announced today that data from a preclinical study for its lead
vaccine candidate to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and
parainfluenza virus type-3 (PIV-3) has shown a protective immune response
against both viruses in animals. The results of the study, published in the
October 2004 issue of the Journal of Virology, support the continued
development of vaccine candidates to prevent these two leading causes of
respiratory illness in young children. The data also serve as a platform for
the development of other vaccines to protect infants from various respiratory
infections. MedImmune is planning to file an investigative new drug
application (IND) to begin clinical testing of a RSV/PIV-3 vaccine candidate
as soon as the end of 2004.
According to the study, RSV-neutralizing antibodies were identified in
African Green Monkeys following administration of a bivalent vaccine for RSV
and PIV-3.
"We are encouraged by the results of the preclinical study and are hopeful
that we will continue to receive positive data from our ongoing research with
our PIV-3/RSV vaccine candidate," said Richard Spaete, Ph.D., senior research
director at MedImmune. "Such results take us one step closer to developing
vaccines that have the potential to prevent these serious pediatric
respiratory viruses as well as others such as human metapneumovirus."
RSV, PIV-3 and hMPV are viruses that cause serious respiratory disease,
particularly in young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised
individuals. RSV is the most common cause of lower respiratory tract
infections in infants and children worldwide, typically occurring during the
fall and winter months. PIV-3 is the leading cause of croup, an acute lower
respiratory disease most often observed in young children. A recently
identified virus, hMPV is believed to cause serious lower respiratory tract
infections in young children.
The study published in the Journal of Virology is entitled "Parainfluenza
Virus Type-3 Expressing the Native or Soluble Fusion (F) Protein of
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Confers Protection from RSV Infection in
African Green Monkeys."
MedImmune has recently published additional studies in support of its
pediatric respiratory vaccine platform. A study published in a June 2004 issue
of the Journal of General Virology showed that hamsters, ferrets and African
Green Monkeys supported hMPV replication efficiently and produced high levels
of hMPV-neutralizing antibodies. In a study in an August 2004 issue of Journal
of Virology, researchers announced recovery of cloned hMPV, a technique which
provides the potential to generate vaccines that may eventually be useful in
preventing hMPV infection.
About MedImmune, Inc.
MedImmune strives to provide better medicines to patients, new medical
options for physicians, rewarding careers to employees, and increased value to
shareholders. Dedicated to advancing science and medicine to help people live
better lives, the company is focused on the areas of pediatric infectious
diseases, cancer and inflammatory diseases. With approximately 1,900
employees worldwide, MedImmune is headquartered in Maryland. For more
information, visit the company's website at http://www.medimmune.com.
This announcement may contain, in addition to historical information,
certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Such
statements reflect management's current views and are based on certain
assumptions. Actual results could differ materially from those currently
anticipated as a result of a number of factors, including risks and
uncertainties discussed in MedImmune's filings with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission. The company is developing several products for potential
future marketing. There can be no assurance that such development efforts
will succeed, that such products will receive required regulatory clearance or
that, even if such regulatory clearance were received, such products would
ultimately achieve commercial success.
SOURCE MedImmune, Inc.
-0- 10/13/2004
/CONTACT: Media: Jamie Lacey, +1-301-398-4035, Investors: Peter Vozzo,
+1-301-398-4358, or John Filler, +1-301-398-4086, all of MedImmune, Inc./
/Web site: http://www.medimmune.com /
(MEDI)
CO: MedImmune, Inc.; Journal of Virology
ST: Maryland
IN: HEA MTC BIO PUB
SU: SVY CHI
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7053 10/13/2004 15:08 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com