Viela Bio is a new, independent biotech company born from MedImmune – AstraZeneca’s global biologics research and development arm – to pursue the development of six molecules (three clinical and three pre-clinical) from its early-stage inflammation and autoimmunity programmes. The new company will focus on developing medicines for severe autoimmune diseases by targeting the underlying causes of each disease. The interested molecules include inebilizumab, currently in Phase II trial development for the treatment of neuromyelitis optica, a rare condition that affects the optic nerve and spinal cord.