MEDI Medimmune (MM)

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Dec. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MedImmune, Inc. (NASDAQ:MEDI) announced today that it has licensed its proprietary reverse genetics intellectual property to CSL Limited (CSL) of Australia to support the development of new human seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccines. Reverse genetics is a method by which viruses such as influenza can be generated entirely from segments of DNA. MedImmune will receive an upfront payment and has the potential to receive royalties on any vaccine stockpiles or other product sales using the reverse genetics technology. "MedImmune is pleased to make this technology available to our vaccine development colleagues at CSL," said Edward T. Mathers, MedImmune's executive vice president, corporate development and venture. "We believe that this technology is an important breakthrough for the manufacturing of all influenza vaccines, because it is more efficient and reliable than current methods used to produce vaccine strains. For pandemic vaccines, reverse genetics can be particularly important and necessary because it does not require vaccine manufacturers to work directly with the infectious pandemic strain, such as H5N1, rather only segments of its genome." MedImmune is collaborating with a number of entities to explore vaccine development techniques that could be used in the event of a pandemic flu outbreak. Earlier this year, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) began enrolling participants in a Phase 1 study of an intranasal H5N1 influenza vaccine candidate based on MedImmune's live, attenuated vaccine technology, using reverse genetics technology. Investigators at MedImmune and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Immunization Research, where the study is being conducted, are hopeful that a live, attenuated intranasal influenza vaccine would be as effective against potential pandemic A strains as it has been shown to be against seasonal matched and mismatched A strains of influenza. About CSL The CSL Group has a combined heritage of outstanding contributions to medicine and human health with more than 90 years experience in the development and manufacture of vaccines and plasma protein biotherapies. CSL's strong commitment to funding research and development of protein based biological medicines for unmet medical needs underpins its continuing growth. Headquartered in Melbourne Australia, the CSL Group includes CSL Bioplasma, CSL Biotherapies and CSL Behring incorporating ZLB Plasma Services. With major facilities in Australia, Germany, Switzerland and the U.S., CSL has approximately 7500 employees working in 26 countries. 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 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 that involve risks and uncertainties, in particular, related to the development of potential influenza vaccines using reverse genetics. 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. There can be no assurance that such development efforts will succeed, that such vaccines will receive required regulatory clearance or that, even if such regulatory clearance is received, such vaccines will ultimately achieve commercial success. There can be no assurance that even if such a vaccine is commercially available, that it will protect against a particular influenza strain or prevent a pandemic. DATASOURCE: MedImmune, Inc. CONTACT: Media: Karen Lancaster, +1-301-398-5864 or Jamie Lacey, +1-301-398-4035; or Investors: Peter Vozzo, +1-301-398-4358, al of MedImmune, Inc. Web site: http://www.medimmune.com/

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