Crucell Receives NIH Award for the Development of Influenza
Monoclonal Antibodies
(Thomson Reuters ONE) - Leiden, The Netherlands (August 18, 2009) - Dutch biopharma companyCrucell N.V. (Euronext, Nasdaq: CRXL; Swiss Exchange: CRX) todayannounced that it received a National Institute of Allergy andInfectious Diseases (NIAID)/National Institutes of Health (NIH)contract aimed at advancing the development of monoclonal antibodiesfor the treatment of seasonal and pandemic influenza. The contractprovides funding of up to $40.7 million, with additional options thatmay be triggered at the discretion of the NIH worth a further $28.4million, bringing the potential total amount to $69.1 million."With the world now at pandemic alert level six, and recent reportsof A/H1N1 oseltamivir resistance occurring, the timing of thiscontract is extremely important" said Dr. Jaap Goudsmit, Crucell'sChief Scientific Officer. "It will allow Crucell and its partners topursue a new approach for the treatment of the disease caused by bothseasonal and pandemic influenza strains."Crucell has developed a set of unique human monoclonal antibodiesthat have been shown to protect against a wide range of distinctseasonal and pandemic influenza viruses. These antibodies are activeagainst the seasonal H1N1 viruses, which show widespread resistanceto oseltamivir (Tamiflu), the current first-line therapeutic. Theywere also found to be active against the pandemic 'swine flu' H1N1influenza viruses and the avian H5N1 'bird flu' viruses, which arestill circulating in Asia. In December 2008, Crucell publishedpre-clinical data showing the prophylactic and therapeutic efficacyof these antibodies in the online journal PLoS ONE. This was followedin February 2009 by a breakthrough publication in the journal Scienceelucidating the mechanism of action of the most potent of theseantibodies.The NIH award confirms the validity of Crucell's innovative antibodyapproach, spearheaded by the rabies monoclonal program.Crucell will be the primary contractor with additional services beingsupplied by Quintiles Guys Drug Research Unit and RetroScreen Ltd,both located in London, as well as Viroclinics and Central VeterinaryInstitute, both located in the Netherlands.About InfluenzaInfluenza, commonly known as 'flu', affects large sections of theworld's population each year. The disease is characterized by annualwinter outbreaks, which often reach epidemic proportions due tothe fact that the virus can mutate quickly, often producing newstrains against which human beings do not have immunity. Typicalsymptoms of flu are usually relatively mild but can become lifethreatening in vulnerable patient groups, such as the elderly andimmunodeficient individuals. In a growing number of countries, smallchildren have been added to the list of preferred protection groups.Transmission of the flu virus occurs through airborne particles andupon infection, the incubation period ranges from one to three days.Each year approximately 5%-15% of the world's population contractsinfluenza and an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 people die annuallyfrom influenza-associated complications according to the World HealthOrganization. As well as these annual epidemics, a major geneticshift in the influenza virus can occasionally lead to a deadly newvirus strain to which the human population does not have immunity,resulting in a global pandemic.An influenza pandemic is a rare but recurrent event. Three pandemicsoccurred in the previous century: 'Spanish influenza' in 1918, 'Asianinfluenza' in 1957, and 'Hong Kong influenza' in 1968. The 1918pandemic caused an estimated 40 to 50 million deaths worldwide. Thatpandemic, which was exceptional, is considered one of the deadliestdisease events in human history. Subsequent pandemics were muchmilder, with an estimated 2 million deaths in 1957 and 1 milliondeaths in 1968.About Influenza antibodies H1N1 and H5N1Crucell has discovered the first human monoclonal antibodies for theprevention and treatment of the 'bird flu' strain H5N1, as well asH1N1, which is similar to the strain responsible for the 'Spanishflu' in 1918. The antibodies provide immediate protection andneutralize a broad range of H5N1 and H1N1 strains in pre-clinicalmodels. In December 2008, Crucell presented data showing that themAb CR6261 was 100% successful in preventing infection with H5N1.When given after H5N1 infection, Crucell's mAb demonstrated theability to prevent death and cure disease in all cases. The mAb alsoperformed significantly better than the anti-influenza drugoseltamivir for the prevention and treatment of H1N1 infection,illustrating the potential use for seasonal applications as well.This is especially important as the resistance of influenza strainsfor oseltamivir is rapidly increasing.About MAbstract® TechnologyCrucell's proprietary MAbstract® technology can be used to discoverdrug targets, such as cancer markers or proteins from infectiousagents including bacteria and viruses, and to identify humanantibodies against those drug targets.About CrucellCrucell N.V. (Euronext, NASDAQ: CRXL; Swiss Exchange: CRX) is aglobal biopharmaceutical company focused on research development,production and marketing of vaccines, proteins and antibodies thatprevent and/or treat infectious diseases. Its vaccines are sold inpublic and private markets worldwide. Crucell's core portfolioincludes a vaccine against hepatitis B, a fully-liquid vaccineagainst five important childhood diseases and a virosome-adjuvantedvaccine against influenza. Crucell also markets travel vaccines, suchas the only oral anti-typhoid vaccine, an oral cholera vaccine andthe only aluminum-free hepatitis A vaccine on the market. The Companyhas a broad development pipeline, with several product candidatesbased on its unique PER.C6® production technology. The Companylicenses its PER.C6® technology and other technologies to thebiopharmaceutical industry. Important partners and licensees includeDSM Biologics, sanofi-aventis, Novartis, Wyeth, GSK, CSL and Merck &Co. Crucell is headquartered in Leiden, the Netherlands, withsubsidiaries in Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Korea and the U.S.The Company employs over 1000 people. For more information, pleasevisit www.crucell.com.Forward-looking statementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements that involveinherent risks and uncertainties. We have identified certainimportant factors that may cause actual results to differ materiallyfrom those contained in such forward-looking statements. Forinformation relating to these factors please refer to our Form 20-F,as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April22, 2009, in the section entitled 'Risk Factors'. The Companyprepares its financial statements under International FinancialReporting Standards (IFRS).For further information please contact:Crucell N.V.Oya YavuzVice PresidentCorporate Communications & Investor RelationsTel. +31-(0)71-519 7064ir(at)crucell.comwww.crucell.comhttp://hugin.info/132631/R/1335383/317340.pdfThis announcement was originally distributed by Hugin. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Datum: 18.08.2009 - 07:45 Uhr
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