Infection

We aim to build a leading franchise in the treatment of infectious diseases through continued commercialisation of the in-line brands such as Synagis, Merrem and FluMist, effective use of our structural and genomic-based discovery technologies and antibody platforms, and through continued research of novel approaches in areas of unmet medical need.

Medical need

World demand for antibacterial antibiotics remains high, due to escalating resistance and the increased risk of serious infections in both immunosuppressed patients and ageing populations.

The need for new, effective anti-virals, either for prevention or as treatment, is apparent in many viral syndromes where there are currently few satisfactory options.

For instance, the hepatitis C virus infects an estimated 170 million people worldwide, but therapy for the strains that predominate in the US and Western Europe require 12 months’ treatment and produces a durable cure in only 50% of patients.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of infant hospitalisation in the US. Approximately one-half of all infants are infected with RSV during the first year of life and nearly all children in the US have been infected by the time they reach their second birthday. Unlike other viral infections, there is no natural immunity created by RSV, so repeated infection is likely and common.

Additionally, tuberculosis remains a worldwide threat and is newly diagnosed in approximately two million people every year in India alone and over eight million people worldwide.