MedImmune Expands Scientific and Engineering Leadership

MedImmune Expands Scientific and Engineering Leadership

- Company also Establishes New Site Leadership Team at Cambridge Facility -

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Dec. 20 -- Continuing the solidification of its role as the global biologics unit for AstraZeneca plc (AZ), MedImmune today announced that Andrew D. Skibo has joined the company as senior vice president, engineering and JoAnn Suzich, Ph.D., a 19-year veteran of the company, has been promoted to vice president, research and development, infectious disease. In addition, MedImmune announced that it has established a new site leadership team at its Cambridge facilities as a part of the plan to integrate the former Cambridge Antibody Technology (CAT) organization into AZ's new global biologics unit, functioning under the name MedImmune.

"As MedImmune supports AZ in its efforts to build a major international presence in the research, development and manufacture of biological therapeutics, it's critical that we continue to expand the depth of our leadership capabilities," said David M. Mott, chief executive officer and president. "I am pleased with the high-caliber scientific and technical talent MedImmune continues to hire and retain as we strive to create the most productive and successful biotech business, with benefits to patients, shareholders and employees worldwide."

New Leadership

Andrew D. Skibo joins MedImmune as senior vice president, engineering. In this role he will be responsible for overseeing large-scale capital projects at all of MedImmune's facilities, including sites in California, Pennsylvania, Maryland, the Netherlands and the UK as well as the ongoing construction of the company's antibody-manufacturing facilities in Frederick, Maryland. He reports to Bernardus Machielse, Drs., executive vice president, operations. Previously, Mr. Skibo held the position of vice president, corporate engineering and capital projects at Amgen, Inc., responsible for restructuring and rebuilding the corporate engineering function on a global level. Before joining Amgen, Mr. Skibo served in engineering management positions focused on pharmaceuticals and bioscience at Skanska, Inc; Foster Wheeler Corp.; Life Sciences International, Inc.; A.D. Skibo & Associates, Inc.; and Genentech, Inc. Mr. Skibo holds a master of science degree in chemical engineering with a specialty in biomedical engineering and a bachelor of science degree in organic chemistry, both from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Management Promotion

As vice president, infectious disease research, Dr. Suzich is responsible for overseeing MedImmune's research in the development of antibodies and antibody-like molecules for the prophylaxis and treatment of infectious disease. Since joining MedImmune in 1988 in the role of scientist, she has held several positions of increasing responsibility, most recently as senior director, infectious disease research. During her tenure with the company she has been involved in many key development programs, including Synagis(R) (palivizumab) and the virus-like particle technology that is the basis of the new human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines used to prevent cervical cancer. Dr. Suzich holds a doctorate in biochemistry from Purdue University and graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of science degree in biology from Susquehanna University.

New Cambridge Site Leadership Team

MedImmune also announced today that following the integration of CAT into MedImmune, several personnel were appointed to the new Cambridge site leadership team under the guidance of John Stageman, Ph.D., vice president and interim site head.

Dr. Stageman has nearly 30 years of experience in R&D management throughout AZ and its predecessor companies, having pioneered large-scale biotechnology process development and scale-up at the start of his career. He entered the pharmaceutical business in 1993 rising through a number of senior roles in both drug discovery and development project management. In 1996, Dr. Stageman led the team that initiated the successful Phase 3 development of Faslodex(R) (fulvestrant). Later, as AZ vice president of biopharmaceutical strategy, he established a team that steered the organization's aggressive drive into biologics, including the acquisitions of both CAT and MedImmune. Dr. Stageman has served on several UK Research Council grant committees and recently served as a member of the Royal Society working party on pharmacogenetics. He is an honorary professor at the University of Manchester and holds both a bachelor of science degree in chemistry and a doctorate in physical chemistry from the University of Bristol.

Jon Green, vice president, business operations is responsible for developing and maintaining all operational, infrastructure and support activities at MedImmune's Cambridge site. Prior to joining CAT in 1992, he held a number of academic posts including on the Medical Research Council, Carshalton, and in the Department of Biochemistry at Imperial College London. Mr. Green holds a primary certification and a master's degree, both in molecular biology. He is a fellow of the Institute of Biology with chartered status.

With 14 years of experience at CAT, Jane Osbourn, Ph.D., currently serves as vice president, research, and acting head, oncology research for MedImmune's Cambridge operations. Previously, she has held a number of product and technology development posts within the organization. Dr. Osbourn completed a doctorate at the John Innes Centre for Plant Science Research in Norwich, followed by a British Heart Foundation Post doctoral fellowship at the Department of Medicine at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge. She obtained a first-class degree in natural sciences (biochemistry) from the University of Cambridge.

Paul Varley, Ph.D., currently vice president, development, Cambridge, joined CAT in 1998 as director of pharmaceutical sciences and was promoted to vice president of biopharmaceutical development in 2004. Previously, Dr. Varley was head of protein science at British Biotech from 1993-1998 and had served as a staff scientist at the National Institute of Biological Standards and Control, UK. He has also undertaken post-doctoral research at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and at the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Dr. Varley holds a degree in biomolecular sciences from Portsmouth Polytechnic and a doctorate from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.

Andy Williams, Ph.D., vice president, research, project management joined CAT in 1993 following a post-doctoral fellowship at University of British Columbia in Vancouver in which he had continued the work on the molecular genetics of color vision he had initiated while pursuing his doctorate at Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London. Dr. Williams has led a number of drug discovery and technology development projects at CAT while previously serving as head of target validation and later establishing the project management and planning group within drug discovery. He holds a first degree in biochemistry from Kings College, University of London.

Trevor Boulding, director, human resources (HR), joined CAT in January 2005 after many years of senior-level HR experience in hi-tech manufacturing and broadcasting. Under his direction, the organization in Cambridge has revised its employee performance management and remuneration systems, implemented a flexible benefits scheme and met the resourcing needs of the plan for biologics growth. Mr. Boulding holds a bachelor's degree in Spanish and French from Birmingham University and is a member of the Institute of Personnel Management (now the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development).

About MedImmune

MedImmune strives to provide better medicines to patients, new medical options for physicians and rewarding careers to employees. With approximately 3,000 employees worldwide and headquarters in Maryland, MedImmune is dedicated to advancing science and medicine to help people live better lives and is wholly owned by AstraZeneca plc (LSE: AZN.L, NYSE: AZN). For more information, visit MedImmune's website at http://www.medimmune.com [1].