SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report: February 12, 1998
MEDIMMUNE, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Commission File Number: 0-19131
Delaware 52-1555759
(State of Incorporation) (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
35 West Watkins Mill Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20878
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (301) 417-0770
No Exhibits are being filed with this report
CytoGam and RespiGam are registered trademarks of the Company.
MEDIMMUNE, INC.
Current Report on Form 8-K
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
MedImmune, Inc. reported the information contained in the following press
release dated February 11, 1998:
MEDIMMUNE LICENSES ANTIBIOTIC TECHNOLOGY TO SIGA PHARMACEUTICALS
Gaithersburg, MD, February 11, 1998 -- MedImmune, Inc. (Nasdaq:MEDI) today
announced it has signed an agreement with SIGA Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:SGPH)
to out-license exclusive rights for development of new antibiotics in
exchange for 335,530 shares of SIGA's common stock (5.3 percent of SIGA's
outstanding shares). The antibacterial technologies are based on discoveries
made by scientists led by Scott J. Hultgren, Ph.D. at Washington University
in St. Louis. MedImmune is developing a vaccine for prevention of urinary
tract infections (UTIs) utilizing similar technologies discovered at
Washington University.
"The agreement with SIGA Pharmaceuticals allows MedImmune to maximize the
commercial potential of this novel antibacterial technology," commented James
F. Young, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Research and Development. "We can
now focus our efforts at MedImmune on our UTI vaccine collaboration with Dr.
Scott Hultgren's lab at Washington University while SIGA focuses on
antibiotic drug development."
UTIs, caused by the bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli), create a
significant medical problem which result in 7-8 million physician and
hospital visits per year at a cost of greater than $1 billion. MedImmune's
vaccine strategy is based on blocking the disease-causing bacteria from
binding and accumulating in the bladder. The identification of specific
proteins, or "adhesins", at the end of the structures which facilitate the
attachment of E. coli to human tissue, provided a novel target for vaccine
development. The Company is currently conducting vaccination studies in
monkeys with the Karolinska Institute in Sweden.
MedImmune, Inc. is a biotechnology company focused on developing and
marketing products for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases
and for use in transplantation medicine. The Company currently markets two
products through its hospital-based sales force and has five new product
candidates in clinical trials. MedImmune is located in Gaithersburg, MD.
SIGA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is engaged in the discovery, development and
commercialization of novel products for the prevention and treatment of
infectious diseases, including new vaccines and antibiotics. The company has
four lead programs in development, including gram-positive commensal vectors
for the delivery of mucosal vaccines, mucosal vaccines against strep throat
and periodontal disease, the discovery and development of new antibiotics
based on novel targets, and Surface Protein Expression System (SPEX) for cost-
effective mass production of proteins.
This announcement may contain, in addition to historical information, certain
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Such
statements reflect management's current views and are based on certain
assumptions. Actual results could differ materially from those currently
anticipated as a result of a number of factors, including risks and
uncertainties discussed in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission. Successful development of a urinary tract vaccine will
require several phases of clinical evaluation and will be subject to
regulatory approval from authorities like the FDA in the U.S. There can be
no assurance that such approvals will be obtained.
(REGISTRANT) MEDIMMUNE, INC.
BY (SIGNATURE) /s/ David M. Mott
(NAME AND TITLE) David M. Mott, President and Chief Operating Officer
(Principal financial and accounting officer)
(DATE) February 12, 1998
