MEDIMMUNE, LLC

A groundbreaking NIH study demonstrates that a single dose of MEDI8852, a broadly neutralizing antibody developed by MedImmune/AstraZeneca, provides complete protection against H5N1 avian influenza in macaques.

• Aridis Pharmaceuticals has executed an agreement to sell AR-501, a therapeutic for chronic bacterial lung infections in cystic fibrosis, for $6.5 million plus royalties. • The company is in discussions for an investment to fund the final Phase 3 study of AR-301, an adjunctive treatment for Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP). • A licensing dispute with MedImmune for AR-320, a VAP prevention candidate, remains unresolved, leading to the likely discontinuation of its Phase 3 trial.

• Over 50 companies are actively developing more than 50 therapeutic options for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) treatment, indicating a robust pipeline. • GSK's Arexvy vaccine demonstrated encouraging Phase III results, preventing lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) in older adults across three RSV seasons. • Merck's clesrovimab showed positive topline results in a Phase IIb/III trial as a preventive treatment for RSV in infants, highlighting potential for vulnerable populations.

• The FDA has approved FluMist, a nasal spray flu vaccine, for self-administration, marking the first flu vaccine that can be administered at home. • FluMist is approved for individuals aged 2 to 49 and will be available through an online pharmacy with a prescription, starting next flu season. • The approval is based on studies showing that adults can safely and effectively administer the vaccine themselves or to children with proper instructions. • This new option aims to improve convenience, flexibility, and accessibility to seasonal influenza vaccination, potentially increasing vaccination rates.

• Sanofi announces major strategic shift, discontinuing diabetes and cardiovascular R&D while prioritizing six potentially transformative therapies and its successful Dupixent franchise. • The company's pipeline now features promising candidates including fitusiran for hemophilia, venglustat for rare diseases, and novel treatments for breast cancer and multiple sclerosis. • Strategic realignment expected to generate €2 billion in cost savings, enabling increased investment in pipeline development and wider profit margins.

Merck & Co's $394 million acquisition of Viralytics signals growing interest in oncolytic viruses as potential enhancers for cancer immunotherapy treatments.

• AstraZeneca secures rights to Inovio's INO-3112, a DNA vaccine targeting HPV-related cancers, in a deal worth up to $727.5 million, planning combination studies with durvalumab. • MedImmune partners with Heptares on adenosine A2A receptor antagonist HTL-2071 for $510 million, aiming to enhance T-cell anti-cancer activity. • A collaboration with Mirati Therapeutics will explore combining durvalumab with HDAC inhibitor mocetinostat in non-small cell lung cancer trials starting next year.