Crucell Announces Start of Universal RSV Vaccine Program
(Thomson Reuters ONE) -
Leiden, the Netherlands (June 24, 2010) - Dutch biopharmaceutical company
Crucell N.V. (NYSE Euronext, NASDAQ: CRXL; Swiss Exchange: CRX) today announced
the start of a discovery program leading to the development and
commercialization of a universal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine. The
RSV vaccine will be designed to prevent severe infections with the most common
RSV strains in infants and the elderly. This discovery program is part of the
existing strategic collaboration with Johnson & Johnson, through its subsidiary
Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., signed in September 2009, to develop
innovative products, including antibodies for influenza prevention and
treatment.
RSV is the most important cause of viral lower respiratory illness in infants
and children. RSV-induced disease is the last of the major paediatric diseases
for which no preventive vaccine is available. Current prevention in developed
countries is based on the administration of an RSV-neutralizing antibody, which
is given to high-risk infants, in particular premature newborns. RSV also
induces severe disease in immunocompromized adults and elderly with weak immune
systems, for whom the costly antibody is not available.
"Crucell is delighted to work on developing a vaccine against RSV", said Ronald
Brus, Crucell Chief Executive Officer. "A vaccine that prevents severe RSV
infections and death in infants will be a tremendous advance for the paediatric
vaccine field. We expect that an RSV vaccine will be the next frontier in
children's vaccines for inclusion in the routine immunization of newborns. Based
on our continuously growing experience in the respiratory field, as well as our
in-house expertise, we are confident that we can make great strides towards our
goal of a best-in-class RSV vaccine."
Collaboration Agreement with Johnson & Johnson
In September 2009 Johnson & Johnson, through its subsidiary Ortho-McNeil-Janssen
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Crucell entered into a strategic collaboration for
the development and commercialization of a universal monoclonal antibody product
for the treatment and prevention of influenza A. In addition, the strategic
collaboration involves four Innovation programs focusing on the development and
commercialization of a universal influenza A vaccine as well as innovative
products directed against three other disease targets. Activities for the
universal influenza A vaccine started in January. The design of the universal
influenza A vaccine will be based on specific epitopes (binding sites) that are
recognized by our broadly cross-neutralizing influenza antibodies. The universal
RSV vaccine has been selected as the second Innovation program; selection of the
two other innovation targets is ongoing.
About Crucell
Crucell N.V. (NYSE Euronext, NASDAQ: CRXL; Swiss Exchange: CRX) is a global
biopharmaceutical company focused on the research, development, production and
marketing of vaccines, proteins and antibodies that prevent and/or treat
infectious diseases. In 2009 alone, Crucell distributed more than 115 million
vaccine doses in more than 100 countries around the world, with the vast
majority of doses (97%) going to developing countries. Crucell is one of the
major suppliers of vaccines to UNICEF and the developing world. Crucell was the
first manufacturer to launch a fully-liquid vaccine that protects against five
important childhood diseases. Since the launch of this pentavalent vaccine,
called Quinvaxem(®), in 2006, over 130 million doses have been sold in more than
50 GAVI countries. Through this innovation, Crucell has become a major partner
in protecting children in developing countries. Other vaccines in Crucell's core
portfolio are a vaccine against hepatitis B and a virosome-adjuvanted vaccine
against influenza. Crucell also markets travel vaccines, including an oral
typhoid vaccine, an oral cholera vaccine and the only aluminum-free hepatitis A
vaccine on the market. The Company has a broad development pipeline, with
several product candidates based on its unique PER.C6(®) production technology.
The Company licenses its PER.C6(®) technology and other proprietary technologies
to the biopharmaceutical industry. Important partners and licensees include
Johnson & Johnson, DSM Biologics, sanofi-aventis, Novartis, Wyeth, GSK, CSL and
Merck & Co. Crucell is headquartered in Leiden, the Netherlands, with
subsidiaries in Argentina, China, Italy, Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK
and the USA. The Company employs over 1200 people. For more information, please
visit www.crucell.com.
Forward-looking statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve inherent
risks and uncertainties. We have identified certain important factors that may
cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in such
forward-looking statements. For information relating to these factors please
refer to our Form 20-F, as filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission
on April 7, 2010, in the section entitled 'Risk Factors'. The Company prepares
its financial statements under International Financial Reporting Standards
(IFRS).
For further information please contact Crucell:
Oya Yavuz
Vice President Corporate Communications & Investor Relations
Tel. +31 (0)71 519 7064
ir(at)crucell.com
www.crucell.com
[HUG#1426680]
PDF file: http://hugin.info/132631/R/1426680/374528.pdf
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Source: Crucell N.V. via Thomson Reuters ONE
Unternehmensinformation / Kurzprofil:
Datum: 24.06.2010 - 07:45 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 22948
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