MedImmune Presents New Pharmaco-Economic Data at American Academy of Pediatrics Regarding Infants at High Ri...( SAN FRANCISCO Oct. 29 /- MedImmun...),Health

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- MedImmune today announced results from a recent economic analysis of Synagis(R) (palivizumab), a monoclonal antibody (MAb) that is the standard of care for prevention of severe lower respiratory tract infection due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in high- risk infants. Released at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2007 National Conference & Exhibition, the analysis evaluated the costs of providing Synagis to premature infants, as well as the potential health benefits and cost savings that could occur from lower rates of severe RSV infections.

RSV can cause severe lower respiratory tract infections in preterm infants. However, recent data have suggested that RSV infection early in an infant's life may cause subsequent chronic respiratory complications such as persistent wheezing.

Dr. Mark Polak, a neonatologist and professor of pediatrics from the West Virginia University School of Medicine and lead author of the economic analysis, noted, "We factored in the potential costs of possible future complications and the quality of life associated with persistent wheezing and, based on these assumptions, our study found that preventing RSV early in life makes economic sense."

The authors noted that more evidence is needed to substantiate the linkage between Synagis and subsequent reductions in persistent wheezing.

MedImmune's Commitment to RSV Prevention

MedImmune is a world leader in the development of innovative therapeutic biologic products to prevent RSV disease. In 1996, MedImmune launched the first anti-RSV drug, RespiGam(R) (respiratory syncytial virus immune globulin intravenous (human) (RSV-IGIV)), which was a polyclonal antibody administered via four-hour intravenous infusion. In 1998, MedImmune introduced Synagis, which was a significant product improvement as a monthly intramuscular injection for the prevention of severe RSV, as well as being the first MAb to receive U.S. Foo
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