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GAITHERSBURG, Md., May 24, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MedImmune, Inc. today announced the presentation of data highlighting recent progress within the company's inflammatory disease pipeline, including results from two Phase 1 clinical studies with its monoclonal antibody (MAb) targeting IL-9 and preclinical data demonstrating a central role for IL-9 in the pathology of asthma. These data, along with preclinical results from other respiratory inflammation programs within MedImmune's pipeline, were presented during the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2007 International Conference, held May 18-23 in San Francisco, CA. Preclinical results were also presented this week at the 94th Annual Meeting of The American Association of Immunologists (AAI), held May 18-22 in Miami Beach, FL.
The IL-9 protein is implicated in a range of characteristic features of asthma, including increased airway inflammation, obstruction and hyperresponsiveness, mucin production and mast cell generation. Earlier preclinical study results have demonstrated that inhibition of IL-9 leads to decreased airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in animal models. The clinical results presented at ATS show that the anti-IL-9 MAb was well tolerated and support further study of the antibody in multiple-dose studies in patients with asthma.
"We are very encouraged by these clinical results, which
provided the impetus for MedImmune to initiate a Phase 2 trial with
our anti-IL-9 MAb and underscore our ongoing commitment to
advancing potential treatments for respiratory inflammatory
diseases," said Barbara White, M.D., vice president, clinical
development, inflammatory disease. "Additionally, as we expand our
body of knowledge about IL-
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