MedImmune Inc has licensed exclusive worldwide rights to human metapneumovirus (hMPV) from ViroNovative, b.v., a private Dutch biotechnology company affiliated with Erasmus University in Rotterdam. Human metapneumovirus is an infectious respiratory virus recently discovered by researchers at Erasmus Medical Center (Erasmus MC) under the direction of Prof. Dr. Albert Osterhaus. MedImmune intends to use its expertise in pediatric respiratory infectious diseases to develop antibodies and vaccines against hMPV.

In June 2001, Prof. Dr. Osterhaus and his team published their discovery of hMPV in Nature Medicine. This previously unknown virus is believed to be a common cause of serious lower respiratory tract infections in young children. It was discovered in cultures from children hospitalized at Erasmus MC with respiratory infections of unknown origin. Subsequently, other laboratories have confirmed the presence of hMPV in North America and Australia. The prevalence of hMPV-specific antibodies in human serum samples suggests that the virus has been infecting humans for at least the last 50 years.

"MedImmune offers a unique opportunity to turn our discovery of human metapneumovirus into products that have the potential to protect young children," stated Prof. Dr. Osterhaus, professor of virology and chief of the Virology Department at Erasmus MC. "They have a proven track record of developing both antibodies and vaccines for viral respiratory infections and are fully committed to applying their expertise to the development of human metapneumovirus products. Furthermore, MedImmune's expertise is clearly complementary to the Erasmus/ViroNovative group, which will help to secure an optimal collaboration in this area."

Early studies indicate that outbreaks of hMPV are similar to that of other respiratory infections, occurring in annual epidemics that peak during the fall and winter months. It is believed that by the age of five, nearly all children will have been infected with hMPV. The clinical symptoms of hMPV are largely similar to RSV, the most common cause of serious respiratory infections in young children, ranging from mild respiratory problems to severe cough, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia, with the very youngest children requiring hospitalization and mechanical ventilation.

MedImmune developed and now markets Synagis (palivizumab), the first monoclonal antibody approved for an infectious disease, used to prevent RSV in high-risk infants. In addition, MedImmune is developing vaccines to prevent several respiratory infections including influenza, parainfluenza and RSV.

Under the licensing agreement, MedImmune will pay ViroNovative an upfront execution fee of $10 million, fund research and development, and pay milestones and royalties on any products developed under the license agreement.