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GAITHERSBURG, Md., Oct. 23 /PRNewswire/ — MedImmune today announced that researchers will present eight posters from its inflammatory disease program at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology, from October 24 to 29, 2008 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California.

“MedImmune is working on a number of potential solutions for patients struggling with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases,” said Barbara White, M.D., vice president, clinical development, respiratory, inflammation, and autoimmunity. “We are pleased to share promising basic research and translational science data relevant to the development of new treatments for diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and myositis”

MedImmune programs that will be discussed include:

 -- MEDI-545 - MEDI-545 is a monoclonal antibody (MAb) targeting interferon-alpha, which regulates processes involved in autoimmune diseases. MedImmune has launched a broad development program with this molecule to assess its potential to treat or prevent a variety of immunological disorders. Currently, MedImmune is conducting a phase 2a trial in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and a phase 1b study in patients with active dermatomyositis and polymyositis. The company has also conducted clinical trials in psoriasis with MEDI-545. -- CAM-3001 - CAM-3001 is a MAb with potential to help patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The antibody targets the alpha sub-unit of the granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor receptor (GM-CSFR). CAM-3001 is a phase 1 clinical stage program. -- ICOS - ICOS (Inducible costimulator) is a receptor on activated T-cells that plays a central role in humoral immunity. Elevated levels of ICOS are present in patients with autoimmune diseases and effector cytokines have been shown to correlate with increased levels of this protein. MedImmune has a preclinical program studying the over-expression of ICOS in several autoimmune diseases. -- CXCL13 - CXCL13 is a molecule that recruits B cells into inflammatory cell aggregates called follicles. In patients with rheumatoid arthritis the levels of CXCL13 are elevated within the inflamed joints thus encouraging B cells to accumulate and interact with a range of cells, such as T cells, within the joint promoting the generation of new inflammatory follicles and contributing to the disease process. 

MedImmune has a preclinical program investigating antibodies that target CXCL13 which may have the potential to prevent the generation of these inflammatory follicles within the rheumatic joint.

The schedule for MedImmune’s eight research posters to be presented at the meeting, starting on Sunday October 26, is as follows:

 -- ICOS as a potential regulator in inclusion body myositis and dermatomyositis - Chris Morehouse, M.Sc., Sunday, October 26 from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. in Hall A, Abstract: 46 

 -- Internalization of the antibody (CAM-3001) following monocyte cell surface binding to the GM-CSFR alpha chain - Brandon Higgs, Ph.D., Sunday, October 26 from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. in Hall A, Abstract: 35 

 -- Neutralization of CXCL13 impacts B-cell trafficking and reduces severity of established experimental arthritis - Matthew Sleeman, Ph.D., Monday, October 27 from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. in Hall A, Abstract: 771 

 -- IFN-alpha/beta as a therapeutic target in systemic lupus erythematosus, myositis, and rheumatoid arthritis: a transcript profiling analysis of whole blood from multiple autoimmune diseases - Brandon Higgs, Ph.D., Tuesday, October 28 from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. in Hall A, Abstract: 1346 

 -- Neutralizing IFN-alpha in SLE affects GMCSF, TNF-alpha, IL-10, IL1-beta and BAFF signaling pathways - Brandon Higgs, Ph.D., Tuesday, October 28 from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. in Hall A, Abstract: 1340 

 -- Memory T lymphocytes expressing the inducible costimulator (icos) are required to maintain the secondary lymphoid tissue architecture in non human primates - Gianluca Carlesso, Ph.D., Tuesday, October 28 from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. in Hall A, Abstract: 1843 

 -- In vitro properties of CAM-3001, a human anti GM-CSF receptor antibody for the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis - Matthew Sleeman, Ph.D., Tuesday, October 28 from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. in Hall A, Abstract: 1338 

 -- Use of a SOCS3 ex-vivopharmacodynamic quantitative RT-PCR assay for CAM-3001, a new antibody therapy for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis - Jo Woods, Ph.D., Tuesday, October 28 from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. in Hall A, Abstract: 1339 

About MedImmune

MedImmune is a leading innovation-focused biotechnology company whose mission is 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 infection, oncology, respiratory disease and inflammation, cardiovascular/ gastrointestinal disease and neuroscience. Headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland, MedImmune has approximately 3,000 employees worldwide and is the wholly owned biologics business for AstraZeneca plc (LSE: AZN.L, NYSE: AZN). For more information, visit MedImmune’s website at www.medimmune.com.

SOURCE MedImmune