AstraZeneca biologics R&D arm MedImmune and Sanofi vaccine division Sanofi Pasteur have entered an agreement to develop and commercialize MEDI8897 jointly.
According to an AtraZeneca release, Sanofi Pasteur will make an upfront payment of €120 million and pay up to €495 million upon achievement of certain milestones. The two companies will share all costs and profits equally. MedImmune and AstraZeneca will lead development through initial approvals, and AstraZeneca will retain MEDI8897 manufacturing activities. Sanofi-Pasteur will lead commercialization activities.
MEDI8897 is a monoclonal antibody (mAb) for the prevention of lower respiratory tract illness (LRTI) caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the most prevalent cause of LRTI among infants and young children. The antibody is currently in a Phase IIb clinical trial in pre-term infants who are ineligible for Synagis, the current standard of care medicine, and the development plan includes a proposed Phase III trial in healthy full-term and late pre-term infants.
AstraZeneca will maintain a direct interest in MEDI8897 through the alliance. The agreement was completed at signing and does not impact AstraZeneca’s financial guidance for 2017.
Read the release