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Biotech / Medical : MedImmune -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Just_Observing who wrote (186)	1/27/2000 5:18:00 PM
From: Ron Kline	Respond to of 416

From the StreetAdvisor.Com... Jan 27 2000 MedImmune, a Gaithersburg, MD Based company is the leader in treating Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), one of the more problematic common diseases to affect infants, primarily premature infants and low birth weight babies. RSV is a virus that attacks the lining of the respiratory systems, causing a very high incidence of pneumonia and other respiratory problems among the youngest pediatric population. During the peak season from late fall through early spring, RSV outbreaks can account for as much as 50 percent of all hospitalizations of infants. Until MedImmune developed RespiGam, their first generation drug to combat RSV, there were few treatment options available. MedImmune?s second-generation drug in this category, Synagis (palivizumab), is taking the premie wards by storm. Thus far, Synagis has only been marketed in the US, and the results of these efforts are strong. So far this RSV season, Synagis has been prescribed to 60,000 patients. This is on track to handily beat the previous year?s total prescriptions of roughly the same cumulative number. The company estimates that they are on target to treat in excess of 80,000 patients with Synagis at their current rate. Of course, this depends somewhat continued winter weather conditions. The good news is that this represents only one fourth of the total US patient population that could benefit from Synagis. Yesterday, MedImmune (Nasdaq: MEDI) released fourth quarter 1999 results, handily beating street estimates. EPS for the quarter were $0.69, vs. First Call estimates of $0.62. Most of these results were based on strong sales of Synagis, with fourth quarter sales of $151.1 million, an increase of 63 percent over the same quarter a year ago. This beat street Synagis sales estimates by $4 million. 97 percent of Synagis sales were domestic, which is encouraging news for the international market, which has only just begin to be approached by the MedImmune sales arm. Annual Synagis sales were $293 million in 1999, a 63 percent year-over-year increase from 1998 totals of $183.9 million. Overall, the company is well positioned to expand Synagis sales into the $500 million range within the next two years. The biggest sales driver will be international exposure. Further penetration into the US market is anticipated as well. Perhaps even better news is that the company?s pipeline is looking strong. MedImmune currently has four drugs in Phase 2 clinical trials for the treatment of cancers, psoriasis, and human pappiloma virus. Several vaccines are in phase 1 trials. We are currently recommending MedImmune as a strong buy. Reed is a healthcare analyst for StreetAdvisor.com.