Rheumco

Rheumco was a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of humanized monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Founded by prominent rheumatology researchers Dr. Peter Lipsky and Dr. Amrie Grammer, the company specialized in targeting the CD40/CD40 ligand pathway to inhibit T-cell-mediated B-cell activation. Its lead candidate, MEDI-511 (formerly R-1295), was a humanized anti-CD154 antibody designed to treat conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. In May 2001, Rheumco was acquired by MedImmune (now part of AstraZeneca) for approximately $10 million to bolster its inflammation and immunology pipeline. The acquisition integrated Rheumco's antibody technology into MedImmune's broader portfolio of biologic therapies.