Visionaries at MedImmune

Gail Wasserman, PhD
Development

In more than 16 years at MedImmune, Gail Wasserman has seen the company achieve several accomplishments. However, what remains a constant is the MedImmune culture that built the company from day one.

"I am filled with the same excitement about MedImmune today as I was when I joined the company in 1992. I arrived at MedImmune as the first person in development and one of about 50 employees thrilled to be in the spacious and newly leased facility at 35 West Watkins Mill Road. It was quite a difference from my prior experience in a company with more than 30,000 employees. One of the research scientists, who also doubled as the IT guy for the entire company, stopped by to show me how to use the computer in my office. I soon discovered that there were endless opportunities to lead a double life at MedImmune, and many people happy to volunteer no matter what needed to be done.

"In addition to my core research role, I too was pulled into whatever else needed to be done, whether it be process engineering or HR. It didn't take long before I was hooked on the MedImmune culture defined by selfless motivation, love of science, and data-based decisions and driven by individuals who believed that they personally could contribute to MedImmune's success in developing medicines for unmet medical needs.

"We are now part of AstraZeneca and have reached another milestone. Indeed, a lot has changed since my first few years with the company. MedImmune is a global organization with a major R&D site in the heart of the UK's bioscience community in Cambridge and one of the biggest pipelines in our sector.

"There is enormous opportunity to succeed and I continue to work with individuals who believe that they personally can make a difference – and they do. Thinking about MedImmune fills me with that familiar feeling of excitement about great achievements to come."

JoAnn Suzich, PhD
Infectious Disease Research

JoAnn Suzich joined MedImmune almost 20 years ago. Known as "employee number 13," Dr. Suzich has been a crucial part of developing the technology that is the basis of the new HPV vaccines used to help prevent cervical cancer. She explains: "The project represented a fantastic team effort, made possible by the coordination of people in many different MedImmune departments including research, development, clinical, regulatory and engineering facilities."

Through her years researching the HPV vaccine, Dr. Suzich feels extremely fortunate and grateful for the opportunities she has had at MedImmune. "This is a company made up of smart, energetic, and creative people. We are passionate and dedicated – and help each other to make great things happen." Today, Dr. Suzich leads the research behind MedImmune's most advanced clinical product candidate, motavizumab.

Frank Top, MD
MedImmune Ventures

Frank Top became the fourth employee at MedImmune when he joined in 1988 as executive vice president, medical director, and member of the board of directors. Now serving as senior vice president with MedImmune's venture capital team, he says: "There have been many exciting highlights at MedImmune for me as a pediatrician and virologist. The most lasting memories are of my participation in our early project teams supporting Synagis® (palivizumab), FluMist® (Influenza Vaccine Live, Intranasal) and our HPV vaccine program."

"Where else could I have spent the past 20 years working with bright, responsible, and dedicated people to produce biopharmaceuticals that offer an injection-free vaccine for children and remarkably reduced serious RSV disease in infants with chronic lung disease? I'm confident that MedImmune will contribute even more improvements to healthcare in the next 20 years."