Blueprint
 
FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
Report of Foreign Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
For the month of March 2017
 
Commission File Number: 001-11960
 
AstraZeneca PLC
 
1 Francis Crick Avenue
Cambridge Biomedical Campus
Cambridge CB2 0AA
United Kingdom
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F X Form 40-F __
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ______
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes __ No X
If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the Registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-_____________
 

 
AstraZeneca PLC
 
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
 
1.
ALLIANCE WITH SANOFI PASTEUR FOR MEDI8897
 
 
This announcement contains inside information
 
3 March 2017 07:00 GMT
 
MEDIMMUNE AND SANOFI PASTEUR FORM ALLIANCE TO DEVELOP AND COMMERCIALISE POTENTIAL NEXT-GENERATION RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS ANTIBODY MEDI8897
 
MedImmune, the global biologics research and development arm of AstraZeneca, and Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, today announced an agreement to develop and commercialise MEDI8897 jointly. MEDI8897 is a monoclonal antibody (mAb) for the prevention of lower respiratory tract illness (LRTI) caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the most prevalent cause of LRTI among infants and young children. MEDI8897 is currently in a Phase IIb clinical trial in pre-term infants who are ineligible for Synagis, the current standard of care medicine, and the development plan includes a proposed Phase III trial in healthy full-term and late pre-term infants.
 
Under the terms of the global agreement, Sanofi Pasteur will make an upfront payment of €120 million and pay up to €495 million upon achievement of certain development and sales-related milestones. The two companies will share all costs and profits equally. MedImmune and AstraZeneca will continue to lead all development activity through initial approvals, and AstraZeneca will retain MEDI8897 manufacturing activities. Sanofi-Pasteur will lead commercialisation activities for MEDI8897.
 
Bahija Jallal, Executive Vice President, MedImmune, said: "By combining our development expertise and leadership in RSV with Sanofi Pasteur's significant global experience in commercialising paediatric vaccines we hope to provide an RSV disease prevention approach for all infants, both term and pre-term. This agreement supports  our focus on our three main therapy areas, while delivering value from the innovative science in our pipeline through partnerships."
 
AstraZeneca's commitment to the prevention of paediatric RSV disease will also continue through Synagis, the only medicine currently approved for the prevention of serious lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV in pediatric patients at high risk of severe RSV disease.
 
Financial considerations
AstraZeneca will maintain a direct ongoing interest in MEDI8897 through the alliance. Revenue from the agreement, including the upfront payment of €120 million and up to €495 million in milestone payments, will therefore be reported as Externalisation Revenue in the Company's financial statements. The agreement was completed at signing and does not impact AstraZeneca's financial guidance for 2017.
 
 
 
About Respiratory syncytial virus
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of lower respiratory tract infections among young children in the United States and worldwide. Most infants are infected before the age of one, and virtually everyone gets an RSV infection by the age of two.
 
Each year, on average, in the United States alone, RSV leads to:
 
●        57,527 hospitalisations among children younger than 5 years old
●        2.1 million outpatient visits among children younger than 5 years old
●        177,000 hospitalisations and 14,000 deaths among adults older than 65 years
 
Source: Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, US Department for Health and Human Services, https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/infection.html
 
About MEDI8897
MEDI8897 is a highly potent monoclonal antibody (mAb) that neutralises RSV by binding the RSV fusion (F) protein expressed on virions and infected cells and has been engineered to have a long half-life, so that only one dose will be needed for the entire RSV season. It is being developed for the passive immunisation of a broad infant population. MEDI8897 is currently being tested in a Phase IIb trial in preterm infants ineligible for Synagis. The current development plan includes a Phase III trial in healthy full-term and late preterm infants. MEDI8897 has received Fast Track designation from the FDA.
 
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 commercialization 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 main 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.
 
 
Media Enquiries
 
 
 
Esra Erkal-Paler
UK/Global
+44 203 749 5638
 
Vanessa Rhodes
 
UK/Global
 
+44 203 749 5736
 
Karen Birmingham
 
UK/Global
 
+44 203 749 5634
 
Rob Skelding
 
UK/Global
 
+44 203 749 5821
 
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
 
+1 240 477 3771
 
Lindsey Trickett
 
Cardiovascular & Metabolic Diseases
 
+1 240 543 7970
 
Nick Stone
 
Respiratory
 
+44 203 749 5716
 
Christer Gruvris
Autoimmunity, Neuroscience & Infection
+44 203 749 5711
 
US toll free
 
+1 866 381 7277
 
Adrian Kemp
Company Secretary, AstraZeneca PLC
 
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
AstraZeneca PLC
 
Date: 03 March 2017
 
By: /s/ Adrian Kemp
 
Name: Adrian Kemp
 
Title: Company Secretary