MedImmune misses Street

MEDI reported a third quarter loss per share of $0.25, missing the consensus estimate of a loss of $0.22. In the same period last year, MEDI's loss was $0.22. The loss per share numbers exclude charges associated with the termination of the company's FluMist deal with Wyeth (WYE). MEDI is profitable on a full year basis.

Third quarter revenues were up 66% to $154 million from $93 million in 2004. Sales of Synagis palivizumab to prevent pediatric respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection were up 66% to $101 million in the third quarter compared with $61 million a year ago. In the U.S., sales of Synagis were up 2% to $43 million in the third quarter, while international sales were $58 million, up 205% from $19 million. Synagis is partnered with Abbott (ABT) outside the U.S. Chemoprotectant Ethyol amifostine posted third quarter sales of $25 million, up 15% from $21 million in the third quarter of 2004. ...