David Katz must be feeling 10 feet tall today. He’s sent a string of letters - most recently, this week - to MedImmune’s board, urging them to sell the struggling drugmaker. And all he’s gotten for his trouble and 1.7 million shares, or 0.71 percent stake, is the bum’s rush.

Now, though, he has an unexpected ally - Carl Icahn, who purchased 2.8 million shares in recent months, although this wasn’t known until a regulatory filing became public this afternoon. The news boosted MedImmune stock 6 percent.

Icahn, as we know, is no shrinking violet. His recent headbutting with ImClone Systems prompted an executive suite overhaul and two board members to resign. To Katz, however, this development is like having his prayers answered.

“Icahn is the real thing,” Katz, who heads Matrix Asset Advisors in New York, told bizjournals.com. “If he’s investing and sends a similar message to our message, then the board would have to take it seriously.”

One would think.

[tags]Carl Icahn, Matrix Asset Advisors, MedImmune[/tags]