Crucell Receives NIAID/NIH Contract for Development of Ebola and Marburg Vaccines
LEIDEN, NETHERLANDS -- (Marketwire) -- 10/03/08 -- Dutch biopharma companyCrucell N.V. (Euronext, Nasdaq: CRXL; Swiss Exchange: CRX) todayannounced that it received a National Institutes of Allergy andInfectious Diseases (NIAID)/National Institutes of Health (NIH)contract aimed at advancing the development of a multivalentfilovirus vaccine that includes both Ebola and Marburg viruses. Thecontract provides funding of up to $30 million, with additionaloptions that may be triggered at the discretion of the NIH worth afurther $40 million.
"We are grateful to the NIAID/NIH for this award, which makes use ofCrucell's proprietary AdVac® technology" said Dr. Jaap Goudsmit,Crucell's Chief Scientific Officer. "This award recognizes thescientific basis for using rare adenovirus serotypes to developvaccines." Dr. Goudsmit added, "The contract builds upon earlier workCrucell has performed with the Vaccine Research Center at NIH, andbrings us a step closer to being able to provide effectivecountermeasures against a highly lethal infectious disease."
Crucell will be the primary contractor with additional services beingsupplied by the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, locatedin San Antonio, Texas and Quintiles Guys Drug Research Unit, locatedin London.
About Ebola and Marburg
The Ebola and Marburg viruses are capable of causing hemorrhagicfever, a severe, often-fatal disease in humans characterized by highfever and massive internal bleeding causing death in 50% to 80% ofall cases. Ebola and Marburg outbreaks occur regularly in tropicalAfrica, affecting both human and great ape populations. Since theEbola virus was first recognized, approximately 2,200 cases includingover 1,500 deaths have been reported. To date over 440 cases ofMarburg have been reported with approximately 360 fatalities. Ebolaand Marburg usually appear in sporadic outbreaks, and spread within ahealth-care setting. Because of the high disease-related mortalityrates and lack of any vaccine or therapy, the Ebola and Marburgviruses are on the US Centers for Disease Control and PreventionCategory "A" list of bioterror agents, together with smallpox andanthrax.
About AdVac® technology
AdVac® technology is a vaccine technology developed by Crucell and isconsidered to play an important role in the fight against emergingand re-emerging infectious diseases, and in biodefense. Thetechnology supports the practice of inserting genetic material fromthe disease-causing virus or parasite into a 'vehicle' called avector, which then delivers the immunogenic material directly to theimmune system. Most vectors are based on an adenovirus, such as thevirus that causes the common cold. The AdVac® technology isspecifically designed to manage the problem of pre-existing immunityin humans against the most commonly used recombinant vaccine vector,adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5), without compromising large-scaleproduction capabilities or the immunogenic properties of Ad5. AdVac®technology is based on adenoviruses that do not regularly occur inthe human population, such as Ad35. In contrast to for instance Ad35antibodies, antibodies to Ad5 are widespread among people of all agesand are known to lower the immune response to Ad5-based vaccines,thereby impairing the efficacy of these vaccines. All vaccinecandidates based on AdVac® are produced using Crucell's PER.C6®production technology.
About Crucell
Crucell N.V. (Euronext, NASDAQ: CRXL; Swiss Exchange: CRX) is aglobal biopharma company focused on research, development, productionand marketing of vaccines, proteins and antibodies that prevent andtreat primarily infectious diseases. Its vaccines are sold in publicand private markets worldwide. Crucell's core portfolio includes avaccine against hepatitis B, a fully-liquid vaccine against fiveimportant childhood diseases and a virosome-adjuvanted vaccineagainst influenza. Crucell also markets travel vaccines, such as theonly oral anti-typhoid vaccine, an oral cholera vaccine and the onlyaluminum-free hepatitis A vaccine on the market. The Company has abroad development pipeline, with several product candidates based onits unique PER.C6® production technology. The Company licenses itsPER.C6® technology and other technologies to the biopharmaceuticalindustry. Important partners and licensees include DSM Biologics,sanofi-aventis, Novartis, Wyeth and Merck & Co. Crucell isheadquartered in Leiden, the Netherlands, with subsidiaries inSwitzerland, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Korea and the US. The Companyemploys over a 1000 people. For more information, please visitwww.crucell.com.
Forward-looking statements
This 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 May 7,2008, and the section entitled "Risk Factors". The Company preparesits financial statements under International Financial ReportingStandards (IFRS).
Calendar:11 November 2008 Q3 Results 200817 February 2009 Q4 Results 2008For further information please contact:Crucell N.V.Oya YavuzDirector Corporate Communications & Investor RelationsTel. +31-(0)71-519 [email protected]