MedImmune, the global biologics research and development arm of AstraZeneca, and French-based Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, announced an agreement to develop and commercialize MEDI8897.
Medimmune is based near Washington, DC. AstraZeneca employs about 1,500 in Delaware.
MEDI8897 is a monoclonal antibody for the prevention of lower respiratory tract illness caused by the respiratory syncytial virus. The condition is common among infants and young children.
MEDI8897 is in a clinical trial in pre-term infants who are ineligible for Synagis, the current standard of care medicine. The development plan includes a proposed Phase III trial in healthy full-term and late pre-term infants.
Under the terms of the global agreement, Sanofi Pasteur will make an upfront payment of $127 million and pay up to $527 million upon achievement of certain development and sales-related milestones. The two companies will share all costs and profits equally.
MedImmune and AstraZeneca will continue to lead all development activity through initial approvals, and AstraZeneca will retain MEDI8897 manufacturing activities. Sanofi-Pasteur will lead commercialization activities for MEDI8897.
Bahija Jallal, Executive Vice President, MedImmune, said: “By combining our development expertise and leadership in RSV with Sanofi Pasteur’s significant global experience in commercizlizing pediatric vaccines we hope to provide an RSV disease prevention approach for all infants, both term, and pre-term. This agreement supports our focus on our three main therapy areas, while delivering value from the innovative science in our pipeline through partnerships.”
AstraZeneca’s work in the prevention of pediatric RSV disease will also continue through Synagis, the only medicine currently approved for the prevention of serious lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV in pediatric patients at high risk of severe RSV disease.
