AstraZeneca plc. (2/28/18). "Press Release: MedImmune to Create Stand-alone Company for Early-stage Inflammation and Autoimmunity Biologics".

	Region	Gaithersburg, MD
	Country	United States (USA)
	Organisation	Viela Bio Inc.
	Organisation 2	MedImmune (biologics division of AstraZeneca)
	Group	AstraZeneca (Group)
	Product	anti-inflammatory drug
	Product 2	venture capital
	Index term	Viela Bio–SEVERAL: investment, 201802 up to $250m funding from investor consortium at spin-out with AZ remaining largest minority shareholder
	Person	Yao, Bing (Viela Bio 201802– CEO before MedImmune)
	Person 2	Jallal, Bahija (Immunocore 201901– CEO before AstraZeneca President MedImmune joined MedImmune 2006)

AstraZeneca today announced that its global biologics research and development arm, MedImmune, is spinning out six molecules from its early-stage inflammation and autoimmunity programmes into an independent biotech company, Viela Bio. The new company will focus on developing medicines for severe autoimmune diseases by targeting the underlying causes of each disease.

MedImmune will contribute three clinical and three pre-clinical potential new medicines. This includes inebilizumab, currently in Phase II trial development for the treatment of neuromyelitis optica, a rare condition that affects the optic nerve and spinal cord in approximately five in 100,000 people. It was granted Orphan Drug Designation by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2016 and by the European Medicines Agency in 2017.

Bing Yao, currently Head of MedImmune’s Respiratory, Inflammation & Autoimmunity (RIA) Innovative Medicines unit, has been named as Chief Executive Officer at Viela Bio. Jorn Drappa, currently Vice President of RIA Clinical Development at MedImmune, has been appointed Head of Research & Development and Chief Medical Officer at Viela Bio.

Bahija Jallal, President of MedImmune and Executive Vice President of AstraZeneca, said: “Our goal is always to find a way for the science to advance. By establishing Viela Bio, we are creating an optimal environment for the continued development of our promising early-stage biologics portfolio in inflammation and autoimmunity. This has the potential to bring the most benefit to patients and will allow us to maintain focus on our three main therapy areas.”

Bing Yao, Chief Executive Officer, Viela Bio, said: “Viela Bio shows great potential, launching with a very robust pipeline with multiple novel molecules in inflammation and autoimmunity. This is combined with a strong, expanding team that has in-depth scientific and clinical development expertise and the ability to bring important, innovative medicines to patients.”

Viela Bio will be based in Gaithersburg, Maryland. It will be funded with up to $250 million from a consortium of investors led by Boyu Capital, 6 Dimensions Capital, and Hillhouse Capital. AstraZeneca will remain the largest minority shareholder of Viela Bio.

This transaction does not include anifrolumab, in late-stage Phase III development by AstraZeneca for the treatment of lupus, a chronic, severe autoimmune disease.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Potential new medicines in the clinic to be included in the new company:

Molecule
Mode of action
First indication
Phase of development

inebilizumab
anti-CD19 mAb
neuromyelitis optica
Phase II

MEDI4920
anti-CD40L-Tn3 fusion protein
primary Sjögren’s syndrome
Phase I

MEDI7734
anti-ILT7 mAb
myositis
Phase I

About MedImmune

MedImmune is the global biologics research and development arm of AstraZeneca, a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of small molecule and biologic prescription medicines. MedImmune is pioneering innovative research and exploring novel pathways across Oncology; Respiratory, Cardiovascular & Metabolic Diseases; and Infection and Vaccines. The MedImmune headquarters is located in Gaithersburg, Md., one of AstraZeneca’s three global R&D centres, with additional sites in Cambridge, UK, and Mountain View, CA. For more information, please visit www.medimmune.com.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in three therapy areas - Oncology, Cardiovascular & Metabolic Diseases and Respiratory. The Company also is selectively active in the areas of autoimmunity, neuroscience and infection. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide.

For more information, please visit www.astrazeneca.com and follow us on Twitter @AstraZeneca.

CONTACTS

Media Relations
Esra Erkal-Paler
UK/Global
+44 203 749 5638
Karen Birmingham
UK/Global
+44 203 749 5634
Rob Skelding
UK/Global
+44 203 749 5821
Matt Kent
UK/Global
+44 203 749 5906
Gonzalo Viña
UK/Global
+44 203 749 5916
Jacob Lund
Sweden
+46 8 553 260 20
Michele Meixell
US
+1 302 885 2677

Investor Relations
Thomas Kudsk Larsen
+44 203 749 5712
Craig Marks
Finance, Fixed Income, M&A
+44 7881 615 764
Henry Wheeler
Oncology
+44 203 749 5797
Mitchell Chan
Oncology; Other
+1 240 477 3771
Christer Gruvris
Brilinta; Diabetes
+44 203 749 5711
Nick Stone
Respiratory; Renal
+44 203 749 5716
US Toll-Free
+1 866 381 7277

Record changed: 2023-06-05