( Animal Models on Wednesday May 23 ...)MedImmune Highlights Advances in Inflammatory Disease Pipeline With,Series of Data Presentations,Health

Preclinical results from several of MedImmune's inflammation biology programs were also presented at the AAI meeting, including new information about the role High Mobility Group Box Protein 1 (HMGB1) may play in inflammatory disorders.

"As we advance our pipeline of innovative product candidates targeting inflammatory diseases, we are particularly focused on the role of B cells in autoimmunity," said Anthony J. Coyle, Ph.D., vice president, research and development, and head, inflammation and autoimmunity research. "These data provide new insight into the mechanisms by which the pro-inflammatory protein HMGB1, implicated in the activation of B cells, may contribute to the pathology of a range of disorders such as joint inflammation and sepsis."

    Data presented at AAI include:

    -- "Regulation of TLR9 dependent DNA Immune complex mediated cell

       activation by High Mobility Group Box Protein 1 (HMGB1) and Receptor

       for Advanced Glycation End products (RAGE)," J. Immunol., Apr 2007;

       178: 128.35.

    -- "Targeting different isoforms of HMGB1 leads to different beneficial

       effects in preclinical models of sepsis and joint inflammation," J.

       Immunol., Apr 2007; 178: 100.6.

    -- Genomic-based high throughput screening and identification of small

       molecule inhibitors targeting interferon-alpha signaling pathways," J.

       Immunol., Apr 2007; 178: 131.17.

    -- "Fc dependent mechanisms are necessary for ADCC and effective depletion

       of murine B cells by humanized anti-CD19 MAb," J. Immunol., Apr 2007;

       178: 131.27.

About IL-9 and Asthma

As mentioned above, IL-9 has been associated with symptoms of asthma. It is one of at least 29 naturally occurring interleukins in the human body. MedImmune is conducting research to evaluate the potential to use MAbs targeting IL-9 to treat or prevent symptomatic, moderate-
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