GAITHERSBURG, Maryland, May 6 /PRNewswire/ --

MedImmune today announced that it has enhanced its leadership team to guide the company's expanded product pipeline in the United States and abroad as well as the core scientific research that underpins this development. Jacqueline Hall has been appointed global vice president, product development team leadership; Lorin Roskos, Ph.D. has been appointed vice president and global head of pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), and bioanalysis in translational sciences and Beth Wensley has been appointed vice president, project management. In addition, Erik-Jan Dekker, Ph.D. joined the organization as vice president, international regulatory affairs, vaccines and Reginald Seeto, M.D., joins as vice president, global strategic marketing and portfolio management.

"It is imperative that we have strong leaders who can channel the continued growth of our product portfolio, particularly as we seek to build out the organization globally," said David M. Mott, chief executive officer and president. "Jacqui, Lorin, Beth, E-J and Reg have the innate talent, industry experience and drive for results that will contribute to MedImmune's continued leadership in biologics."

Based at MedImmune's Cambridge, UK site, Ms. Jacqueline Hall is accountable for the strategic leadership of global product development teams that are responsible for the generation and execution of development plans for biologics products. She joined Cambridge Antibody Technology (CAT), now MedImmune, in 2006 as vice president, project management. Previously, Ms. Hall served as project leader at GlaxoSmithKline where she was responsible for the strategic development of product candidates from selection through to market launch. She has also held positions at SmithKline Beecham, Pharmaco-LSR and Schering-Plough. Ms. Hall has a first-class honors degree in chemistry from Imperial College of Science and Technology/Birbeck College, London and a diploma in clinical science from the Welsh School of Pharmacy, Cardiff.

Dr. Lorin Roskos is responsible for managing and integrating preclinical and clinical PK/PD and bioanalytical groups at MedImmune sites in Maryland, California and England. Dr. Roskos became part of the MedImmune team in 2008 after a year at AstraZeneca as executive director of research and development. Prior to AstraZeneca, Dr. Roskos spent six years at Abgenix, Inc., as the head of PK and toxicology, and has prior experience in PK and drug metabolism at Amgen and Eli Lilly. He holds a doctorate in pharmaceutics from the University of Washington and a bachelor's degree in biochemistry and pharmacy from the University of Georgia.

Ms. Beth Wensley oversees the global project management team that provides strategic project management in driving forward the product development teams and the overall product development portfolio. Ms. Wensley joined MedImmune in 2001, and has previously served as senior director, California operations; director, supply chain operations; and associate director, project management. She earned extensive project management, operational, manufacturing and environmental, health & safety experience during her tenure with companies such as Incyte Genomics, Raychem Corporation and Syntex Pharmaceuticals. She holds a master's degree in business administration from Santa Clara University and a master's in environmental science from the University of Washington. She also has a bachelor's degree in biology from California Lutheran College and is APICS certified from the Association for Operations Management.

Based in the Netherlands as MedImmune's new vice president, international regulatory affairs, vaccines, Dr. Erik-Jan Dekker is leveraging his 17 years' experience in regulatory affairs to lead MedImmune's expansion overseas. In his previous position at Baxter Healthcare, he was the global senior director, regulatory affairs, biologics, responsible for worldwide vaccine and biosurgery marketing authorization applications. Prior to joining Baxter Healthcare, Dr. Dekker was the director of regulatory affairs globally at Laboratoire Francais du Fractionnement et des Biotechnologies in France. Earlier in his career, Dr. Dekker held teaching positions at the University of Utrecht and Alkwin College. From the University of Utrecht, Dr. Dekker holds a doctorate in biochemistry and molecular developmental biology and genetics, a master's degree in biology and international patent law and a bachelor's degree in biology and geography.

As MedImmune's new vice president, global strategic marketing and portfolio management, Dr. Reginald Seeto is responsible for providing strategic guidance on investment decisions and managing commercialization efforts for new products in various stages of development. In his previous position at Organon International, he was the vice president of global marketing, fertility, immunology, oncology and vaccines. Previously, Dr. Seeto was the executive director of marketing at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals and had served as an engagement manager at McKinsey & Company. He holds both a medical degree and a bachelor of science degree from the University of Sydney, and practiced medicine in Australia early in his career.

About MedImmune

MedImmune strives to provide better medicines to patients, new medical options for physicians and rewarding careers to employees. Dedicated to advancing science and medicine to help people live better lives, the company is focused on infection, oncology, respiratory disease and inflammation, cardiovascular/gastrointestinal disease and neuroscience. With approximately 3,000 employees worldwide and headquarters in Maryland, MedImmune is wholly owned by AstraZeneca plc (LSE: AZN.L, NYSE: AZN). For more information, visit MedImmune's website at http://www.medimmune.com.

Web site: http://www.medimmune.com

Media, Jamie Lacey, +1-301-398-4035, or Investors, Peter Vozzo, +1-301-398-4358, both of MedImmune