MedImmune In-Licenses Novel Inflammatory Disease Target
2006年12月28日 - 10:05PM
PRニュース・ワイアー (英語)
GAITHERSBURG, Md., Dec. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MedImmune,
Inc. (NASDAQ:MEDI) announced today that it intends to develop a
monoclonal antibody (MAb) targeting pathways within the CD28
receptor family for treatment of certain inflammatory diseases
under a recently signed license agreement with Japan Tobacco, Inc.
(JT). MedImmune's initial efforts will focus on developing the
current lead antibody, which aims to inhibit a receptor believed to
play a key role in controlling adaptive immune responses, called
inducible-costimulator (ICOS), and thereby regulate T-cell
dependent activation of B cells. Inappropriate activation of T
cells resulting in B-cell activation is implicated in a variety of
autoimmune disorders. "The addition of this novel target to
MedImmune's inflammatory disease pipeline underscores our
commitment to developing innovative therapies for the treatment of
unmet medical needs, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or
lupus), Sjogrens syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis," said Anthony
J. Coyle, Ph.D., MedImmune senior director, research, and head,
inflammation biology. "As we work to develop the anti-ICOS MAb as a
potential treatment for such immune system disorders, we also hope
to continue to collect scientific knowledge related to the role of
signaling pathways in regulating immune response outcomes." Under
the terms of the agreement, JT will receive an undisclosed upfront
payment, milestone payments and royalties on any future marketed
products. JT retains exclusive development and marketing rights for
the current lead antibody in Japan. MedImmune has exclusive
development and marketing rights to this antibody for the rest of
world and certain rights worldwide for other antibodies developed
as a result of the agreement. About Anti-ICOS MAbs Preclinical
study results indicate that ICOS is only expressed on a subset of T
cells and is essential for T-cell dependent B-cell activation. In
addition, ICOS is required for IL-17 secretion from activated T
cells. IL-17 is a T-cell derived cytokine that is implicated in the
development of various inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid
arthritis. In preclinical studies, ICOS-inhibition with MAbs was
shown to be effective in models of rheumatoid arthritis, asthma,
multiple sclerosis and lupus. About Japan Tobacco Japan Tobacco
Inc. is the world's third largest international manufacturer of
tobacco products. Since its privatization in 1985, JT has actively
diversified its operations into pharmaceuticals and foods. JT
entered into the pharmaceutical business in 1987 and established
the Central Pharmaceutical Research Institute in 1993. JT is
currently engaged in the research and development of new drugs in
various areas such as glucose and lipid metabolism, anti-virus,
immune disorders and inflammation, and bone metabolism. The
company's net sales were 4.637 trillion yen in the fiscal year that
ended March 31, 2006. About MedImmune 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
infectious diseases, cancer and inflammatory diseases. With more
than 2,500 employees worldwide, MedImmune is headquartered in
Maryland. For more information, visit the company's website at
http://www.medimmune.com/. This announcement contains, in addition
to historical information, certain "forward-looking statements"
regarding the development of inflammatory disease product
candidates by MedImmune, Inc. Such forward-looking statements are
based on current expectations and involve inherent risks and
uncertainties, including factors that could delay, divert or change
current expectations and could cause actual outcomes and results to
differ materially from current expectations. In addition, MedImmune
can provide no assurance that these products will be commercially
successful. In addition to risks and uncertainties disclosed in
MedImmune's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission, no assurance exists that development efforts for these
products will succeed, that these products will receive required
regulatory approval or that, even if regulatory approval is
received, they will be commercially successful. MedImmune
undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise
except as may be required by applicable law or regulation.
DATASOURCE: MedImmune, Inc. CONTACT: Media: Jamie Lacey,
+1-301-398-4035, or Investors: Peter Vozzo, +1-301-398-4358, both
of MedImmune, Inc. Web site: http://www.medimmune.com/
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