MIPS Project Detail:

Company
Company Description:
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. MedImmune is headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., one of AstraZeneca’s three global R&D centers, with additional sites in Cambridge, UK and Mountain View, Calif.
MedImmune’s SYNAGIS therapeutic is an FDA-approved prescription injection of antibodies that is given monthly to help protect high-risk infants from severe respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.
RSV is a common virus that, like the flu, is seasonal and easily spread. Most children will get RSV by the age of two. RSV begins with cold-like symptoms but can spread to the lungs. For babies with certain health conditions, RSV can be very serious.
SYNAGIS is the first monoclonal antibody approved for the prevention of an infectious disease, as well as the first such drug to be safely used in children.

MIPS Project
Characterization of Artificial Antibody
Project #
2514
|
MIPS Round
25
|
Starting Date:
Feb 2000
MIPS Project Challenge:
MedImmune sought to characterize the humanized antibody SYNAGIS to identify potential changes in structure that occurred at the antigen binding site. This could possibly lead to a new antibody with improved, viral-neutralizing characteristics.
Project Scope:
Braden crystallized the antigen-binding fragment of the SYNAGIS antibody and selected variants, complexed with the protein antigen of the RSV virus. He also used x-ray diffraction analysis to determine the three-dimensional structure of the antibody/antigen complex. Finally, Braden studied the thermodynamics of the antibody/antigen association using micro-calorimetric techniques.

Results:
Braden’s work contributed to the structural characterization of SYNAGIS. Braden continued to work with MedImmune on a contractual basis for 15 years. Together, their work resulted in two patents and two published papers.
Patents:
• U.S. Patent# 7,229,618: Crystals and structure of Synagis Fab
• U.S. Patent# 6,955,717: Crystals and structure of Synagis Fab
Papers:
• Soft nanomaterials characterization using low voltage-high contrast electron microscopy and advanced image reconstruction techniques, SPIE Photonics West - BIOS: Biomedical Optics Volume 8954, January 31-February 7, 2014, Raúl E. Cachau, Bradford C. Braden, Jack R. Collins, Igor A. Topol1 and Jose R. Casas-Finet
• Nanoparticles characterization using HDR-NTA image analysis, SPIE Photonics West - BIOS: Biomedical Optics Volume 8954, January 31-February 7, 2014, Raúl E. Cachau, Bradford C. Braden, Jack R. Collins1 and Jose R. Casas- Finet
Principal Investigator:
Bradford
Braden
Professor, Center for Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Nursing
Project Manager:
John
Hope
Scientist, AS/QC
Technologies:
Biotechnology / Genetic Engineering