MedImmune and Crucell N.V. (Euronext, NASDAQ: CRXL) announced today that they have entered into an exclusive license and research collaboration to further develop and commercialize one of Crucell's panels of bacterial antibodies primarily for the treatment and prevention of hospital-acquired bacterial infection.
Under the agreement, MedImmune is to provide Crucell certain upfront, annual and milestone payments potentially exceeding US$ 40 million, plus research and development (R&D) funding and an undisclosed royalty on product sales.
Under the terms of the agreement, Crucell has granted MedImmune an exclusive license to research, develop and commercialize antibodies within one of its MAbstract®-technology programs. In addition MedImmune will have access to Crucell's antibody capabilities for further R&D.
The partnership combines Crucell's unique antibody discovery, research and development capabilities with MedImmune's expertise in clinical development and commercialization of anti-infective antibodies.
In 2005, Crucell announced the initiation of several new antibody discovery programs in the field of hospital-acquired infections. Under the terms of the license agreement announced today, Crucell has now entered into a partnership with MedImmune for one of these programs. Crucell has discovered and developed these unique anti-bacterial antibodies using its proprietary MAbstract® technology.
"As a company strongly committed to the prevention of infectious disease, we are excited to expand our research to include a broader program in bacterial infection through this collaboration with Crucell," said JoAnn Suzich, Ph.D., MedImmune's senior director, infectious disease research.
"We are confident that this collaboration will accelerate the development of this urgently needed therapeutic to circumvent antibiotic resistant infections and we are immensely proud that MedImmune, a leader and innovator in the field of infectious disease prevention, has chosen us as its partner," said Dr. Jaap Goudsmit, CSO of Crucell. "This is an important validation of Crucell's capabilities and potential in the development of novel therapeutic antibodies."
About MAbstract® technology
Crucell's proprietary MAbstract® technology can be used to discover drug targets, such as cancer markers or proteins from infectious agents including bacteria and viruses, and to identify human antibodies against those drug targets.
About hospital-acquired bacterial infections
In the U.S. and Europe, hospital-acquired bacterial infections affect about two million patients per year, causing more than 200,000 deaths. Attributable costs amount to more than US$ 5 billion per year in the U.S. alone. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria increase the severity of disease, escalating mortality rates and driving up costs. The rise in hospital-acquired infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria presents an opportunity for the development of alternative treatments replacing or complementing antibiotics.
About MedImmune
MedImmune strives to provide better medicines to patients, new medical options for physicians and rewarding careers to employees. 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 approximately 3,000 employees worldwide and headquarters in Maryland, MedImmune is wholly owned by AstraZeneca plc (LSE: AZN.L, NYSE: AZN). For more information, visit MedImmune's website at http://www.medimmune.com.
