In a growing indication of its emphasis on biologics, Cambridge Antibody Technologies, which AstraZeneca bought last year for over $1 billion, will be integrated into AstraZeneca's MedImmune division, according to an Oct. 29 announcement.

MedImmune CEO David M. Mott referred to MedImmune as the "operationally independent and strategically aligned biologics business unit of AstraZeneca."

"Bringing together the biologics expertise of CAT, MedImmune and AstraZeneca allows us to preserve MedImmune's traditional biotech agility and entrepreneurial spirit while encouraging strategic collaboration and cross fertilization of ideas under AstraZeneca's world-class research umbrella," he added.

With the integration, AstraZeneca VP-Biopharmaceutical Strategic Planning John Stageman will assume the role of site head at CAT's headquarters in Cambridge, England.

AstraZeneca acquired CAT, with a focus on developing monoclonal antibodies, in May 2006 for $1.06 billion (¹ Also see "AstraZeneca Hears CAT’s Meow With Biotech Acquisition" - Pink Sheet, 15 May, 2006.). At the time, AstraZeneca said it intended to have biologics account for 25 percent of its product pipeline by the end of 2007.

- Jonathan M. Block (j.block@elsevier.com)

Purrfect Fit: AstraZeneca’s CAT Curls Up With MedImmune

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