The latest results were presented yesterday, by Dr Jaap Goudsmit, atIBC's 19th Annual International Conference on Antibody Engineering inSan Diego, USA. The preclinical study compared Crucell's mAb CR6261with the anti-influenza drug oseltamivir in terms of their value forflu prevention and treatment.

The flu strains tested included the 'bird flu' strain H5N1, which,experts fear, has the potential to cause a pandemic, and H1N1, whichis similar to the strain responsible for the devastating pandemic in1918. Dr Goudsmit presented data showing that the mAb CR6261 was 100%successful in preventing infection with H5N1. When given after H5N1infection, Crucell's mAb demonstrated the ability to prevent deathand cure disease in all cases. The mAb also performed significantlybetter for the prevention and treatment of H1N1 infection,illustrating the potential use for seasonal applications as well.

This makes it a potentially powerful antibody against a broad rangeof influenza strains. Fears of a flu pandemic are fuelled by therising number of flu strains that have mutated in ways that make themresistant to oseltamivir.

Importantly, the study showed that CR6261 provides immediateprotection against the influenza virus, suggesting that it will beable to prevent disease spread. In contrast, oseltamivir was lessefficacious and in some cases not effective at all.

The advantages of the mAb over oseltamivir may also be important forprotecting or treating people at risk of severe illness or death dueto seasonal flu. These include the elderly and immune-suppressedindividuals.

The characterization of the antibody will be described in the onlinejournal PLoS ONE (www.plos.org) on December 16, 2008.

"An effective treatment of influenza is urgently needed. The limitedefficacy of oseltamivir and the rising resistance to thisanti-influenza drug are cause for concern. I am very encouraged bythese preclinical results indicating that our monoclonal antibody mayprovide an effective means for disease prevention and cure," saidJaap Goudsmit, Crucell's Chief Scientific Officer.

"Although this antibody is still at any early stage of development,these results are very promising and demonstrate the strength of ourin-house research and development aimed at bringing innovation toglobal health," said Ronald Brus, Crucell's Chief Executive Officer.

About Crucell

Crucell N.V. (Euronext, NASDAQ: CRXL) (SWISS: 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).

For further information please contact:Crucell N.V.Oya YavuzDirector Corporate Communications & Investor RelationsTel. +31-(0)71-519 7064ir@crucell.comwww.crucell.com

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