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Crucell Announces Registration of Hepavax-Gene(R) in China
LEIDEN, NETHERLANDS -- (Marketwire) -- 12/08/08 -- Dutch biopharmaceuticalcompany Crucell N.V. (Euronext, NASDAQ: CRXL; Swiss Exchange: CRX),today announced that the Chinese Authorities have releasedHepavax-Gene® for registration and quality control in China.
"The launch of Hepavax-Gene® is a significant advancement in theexpansion of Crucell's business in the highly strategic Chinesevaccine market," said Ronald Brus, Crucell's Chief Executive Officer."Hepavax-Gene® will contribute significantly to the sustainability ofour Chinese operations. The Chinese hepatitis B vaccine market is theworld's biggest market with approximately 100 million dosesadministered yearly."
The prospects for Hepavax-Gene® in the Chinese private market areexcellent. Hepavax-Gene® will be positioned in the high-end privatemarket segment with a particular focus on young adults. Hepavax-Gene®possesses two decisive advantages; its production is based onCrucell's hansenula polymorpha patented technology and it is 100%free of thiomersal. Thiomersal is a mercury based compound which, inseveral countries, is being phased out from vaccines given tochildren to avoid potentially adverse effects.
Hepavax-Gene®
Hepavax-Gene® is a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine. Since itsintroduction in 1996, more than 596 million doses have been sold inover 90 countries, making it the third most used hepatitis B vaccinein the world. It is one of the World Health Organization (WHO)'spre-qualified vaccines for immunization against hepatitis B virus(HBV). As one of seven different human hepatitis (inflammation of theliver) viruses, HBV can give rise to acute hepatitis lasting severalweeks, but can also result in chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis of theliver and liver cancer. It is a highly infectious disease and endemicin many parts of the world, with more than 350 million chroniccarriers. It claims about one million lives each year.
Hansenula Polymorpha Technology
H. polymorpha patented technology is a broadly applicable proteinexpression system. It offers a safe and robust platform forindustrial scale production of pharmaceuticals including vaccines.Crucell was the first to use the H. polymorpha platform to theprocess development of its hepatitis B vaccine Hepavax-Gene®. Theexpression system has proven to be a safe, reliable system for abroad range of industrial proteins.
About Crucell
Crucell 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 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 and Merck & Co.Crucell is headquartered in Leiden, the Netherlands, withsubsidiaries in Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Sweden, Koreaand the US. The Company employs over a 1000 people. For moreinformation, please visit www.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).
This announcement was originally distributed by Hugin. The issuer issolely responsible for the content of this announcement.
PDF file: http://hugin.info/132631/R/1275474/283890.pdf
Copyright © Hugin AS 2008. All rights reserved.
For further information please contact:Crucell N.V.Oya YavuzDirector Corporate Communications & Investor RelationsTel. +31-(0)71-519 7064Email Contactwww.crucell.com
The prospects for Hepavax-Gene® in the Chinese private market areexcellent. Hepavax-Gene® will be positioned in the high-end privatemarket segment with a particular focus on young adults. Hepavax-Gene®possesses two decisive advantages; its production is based onCrucell's hansenula polymorpha patented technology and it is 100%free of thiomersal. Thiomersal is a mercury based compound which, inseveral countries, is being phased out from vaccines given tochildren to avoid potentially adverse effects.
Hepavax-Gene®
Hepavax-Gene® is a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine. Since itsintroduction in 1996, more than 596 million doses have been sold inover 90 countries, making it the third most used hepatitis B vaccinein the world. It is one of the World Health Organization (WHO)'spre-qualified vaccines for immunization against hepatitis B virus(HBV). As one of seven different human hepatitis (inflammation of theliver) viruses, HBV can give rise to acute hepatitis lasting severalweeks, but can also result in chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis of theliver and liver cancer. It is a highly infectious disease and endemicin many parts of the world, with more than 350 million chroniccarriers. It claims about one million lives each year.
Hansenula Polymorpha Technology
H. polymorpha patented technology is a broadly applicable proteinexpression system. It offers a safe and robust platform forindustrial scale production of pharmaceuticals including vaccines.Crucell was the first to use the H. polymorpha platform to theprocess development of its hepatitis B vaccine Hepavax-Gene®. Theexpression system has proven to be a safe, reliable system for abroad range of industrial proteins.
About Crucell
Crucell 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 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 and Merck & Co.Crucell is headquartered in Leiden, the Netherlands, withsubsidiaries in Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Sweden, Koreaand the US. The Company employs over a 1000 people. For moreinformation, please visit www.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).
This announcement was originally distributed by Hugin. The issuer issolely responsible for the content of this announcement.
PDF file: http://hugin.info/132631/R/1275474/283890.pdf
Copyright © Hugin AS 2008. All rights reserved.
For further information please contact:Crucell N.V.Oya YavuzDirector Corporate Communications & Investor RelationsTel. +31-(0)71-519 7064Email Contactwww.crucell.com
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