MedImmune – Developing medicines that change lives. An exclusive interview with Dr Jane OsbournMedImmune.

1. MedImmune –
Developing medicines
that change lives
The East of England: An exclusive interview with
G
G
A dynamic biotech cluster;
Access to globally valued research;
Dr Jane Osbourn MedImmune
G A highly experienced skills base;
G Potential for strong market growth; MedImmune, the worldwide biologics business for the
G A well-established supply chain;
G A lower-cost base for European operations AstraZeneca Group, aims to be the next revolutionary force in
within easy reach of London, the rest of the biotechnology through its commitment to improving patient health
UK and the Continent.
and by delivering life-changing products.
Dr Jane Osbourn, Site Leader for MedImmune in Cambridge,
talks about the company’s growth plans and the new therapy areas
it has recently entered.
‘MedImmune is a pioneer of groundbreaking research and has
successfully discovered, developed and applied an impressive
range of innovative technologies. These include antibody
engineering, ribosome display, phage display, live viral vaccines,
reverse genetics and virus-like particle (VLP) technology.
‘MedImmune’s list of firsts includes developing and
commercialising Synagis® (palivizumab), the first monoclonal
antibody for infectious disease.
Business support funded by the
East of England Development Agency
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2. MedImmune –
Developing medicines that change lives
‘MedImmune was also responsible for developing the virus-like ‘MedImmune has a highly skilled and specialist workforce;
particle (VLP) technology for human papilloma virus vaccines over 95% of the science staff are graduates and around 50% hold
and developing and commercialising FluMist® (Influenza Virus a PhD. Cambridge is a very good place to recruit and our growing
Vaccine Live, Intranasal), the first advance in flu technology reputation also attracts researchers from mainland Europe.
in the US for over 60 years. Researchers from our Cambridge We enjoy excellent links with the University of Cambridge,
facility also discovered the blockbuster biologics drug HUMIRA® Imperial College London, Manchester University and many other
(adalimumab), the first human antibody to be approved. academic laboratories, as well as Addenbrooke’s Hospital on
Our work is all about making a difference, using scientific the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. It is important to us that
innovation to improve patients’ lives. we are part of a globally-renowned biotech cluster. We are open
to further collaborations in the future; my role of Site Leader
includes responsibility for raising our external profile with more
‘In 2008, we opened our state-of-the-art 92,000
networking and partnerships.
sq ft biologics R&D facility as a supplement
to our existing buildings on Granta Park in ‘Granta Park is a good place to work, with a community feel
and fast access to London Stansted and London Heathrow
Cambridge where 400 staff are currently Airports as well as rail links to London. With the arrival of new
employed. Housed in the new Aaron Klug companies, such as Pfizer Regenerative Medicines, it is rapidly
building, this landmark development cemented becoming a Centre of Excellence in its own right, housing
a network of scientific leaders.’
the East of England as the European R&D
centre for us.
KEY FACTS
‘The expansion has enabled us to move into new therapy areas:
neuroscience, diabetes and cardiovascular in addition to our G MedImmune has undergone rapid expansion in recent
established therapy portfolio of respiratory, inflammatory, auto years. In 2006 and 2007, Cambridge Antibody Technology
immune diseases and oncology. We have a great opportunity, and MedImmune respectively were acquired by AstraZeneca
in collaboration with AstraZeneca, to build a world-leading and in 2007 combined to become its biologics arm.
innovative portfolio of biologic drugs. These two businesses were an excellent synergy in terms
of complementary technologies and became the focus
‘Further investment and growth is ongoing; we currently have for other biologics research being conducted elsewhere
35 vacancies in Cambridge. Our location on Granta Park in AstraZeneca.
means there is room to grow so that the team here can play
a central role in MedImmune’s global R&D activities. G At Granta Park, MedImmune employs approximately 200
staff in research. A further 100 are in early development,
‘Our clinical development group is working towards becoming working on the processes and the cell lines to make the
the European Centre of Excellence for MedImmune. This side output available to research and then to manufacture.
of our business has been growing over the last year and now These are highly qualified people, with biochemistry and
has 40 people under the clinical umbrella, including clinicians protein products skill-sets. Clinical development houses
and clinical project management experts. 40 people; the remaining 60 staff provide important support
functions for the business.
‘There is no doubt that access to prestigious academics has
played an important role in the company’s history and success. G MedImmune employs 3,100 staff worldwide. Headquartered
Sir Aaron Klug, a former Nobel Prize Winner for Chemistry, has in Gaithersburg, Maryland, the company also has facilities
been hugely supportive and our new R&D facility is named after in Pennsylvania, California, Kentucky, the Netherlands
him. We have also benefited from the outstanding expertise of and the UK.
the late immunologist and Nobel Prize Winner César Milstein,
after whom our original building is named and Professor G With MedImmune, AstraZeneca aims to become a leader in
Sir Greg Winter who helped establish Cambridge Antibody biologics with access to antibody and vaccine technologies,
Technology (CAT). process development and manufacturing.
For expert help contact:
East of England International
2 Quayside Cambridge CB5 8AB
United Kingdom East of England International gives free and
T: +44 (0)1223 450 450 confidential help to overseas-owned companies
E: info@eeia.com setting up or expanding in the UK.
09/42 Copyright July 2009