Crucell corporate brochure (PDF)

Our business – Research and development
In November 2010, Crucell announced the start of a discovery program
leading to the development and commercialization of a therapeutic
HPV vaccine. The discovery program is part of a strategic collaboration,
signed in September 2009 with Johnson & Johnson, through its
subsidiary Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., to develop
innovative products, including antibodies for influenza prevention
and treatment.
RSV (Discovery/Pre-clinical)
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most important cause of viral
lower respiratory tract 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 a costly RSV-neutralizing antibody, which is
given to high-risk infants, in particular premature newborns. RSV also
induces severe disease in immunocompromized adults and elderly
people with weak immune systems, for whom the RSV antibody is
not available.
In June 2010, Crucell announced the start of a discovery program
leading to the development and commercialization of a universal RSV
vaccine. The 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 a strategic collaboration with Johnson & Johnson,
signed in September 2009.
As an encouragement towards the RSV research community, Crucell
sponsored the VII Respiratory Syncytial Virus Symposium held in
December 2010 and established the Innovation Award for RSV Research.
This support highlights Crucell’s long-standing commitment to improve
the health of people worldwide by advancing the fight against
infectious diseases.
Antibody development
Antibodies are proteins made naturally by cells of the body’s immune
system. They function as one of the body’s principal defense mechanisms
against pathogens—disease-causing agents such as parasites, viruses
or bacteria. As antibodies recognize and bind to invading pathogens,
ultimately eliminating them, they play a crucial role in protecting
humans against disease.
Rabies antibody combination (Phase II)
Rabies is a viral disease of mammals and is most often transmitted
through the bite of a rabid animal. The virus infects the central nervous
system, causing encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and ultimately
death if appropriate medical intervention is not given promptly. Every
year, more than 15 million people worldwide receive a post-exposure
preventive regimen to avert the disease. This is estimated to prevent
327,000 rabies deaths annually. 1
Nevertheless, an estimated 55,000 individuals exposed to rabies
virus—mostly children—die each year. Most of those who die receive
a rabies vaccine only, rather than the proper post-exposure treatment
consisting of anti-rabies antibodies as well as a vaccine. Concerns
about the availability and safety of the current, blood-derived
antibody treatment have prompted the search for a safe, effective
and affordable alternative.
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