Crucell corporate brochure (PDF)

Our business – Research and development
In a pre-clinical study comparing CR6261 with the leading antiviral
drug, oseltamivir, Crucell’s mAb strongly outperformed oseltamivir for
influenza prevention and treatment. The study showed that CR6261
provides immediate protection against influenza viruses, suggesting
that it will be able to prevent disease spread and therefore ward off
a threatening pandemic. In contrast, oseltamivir was less effective
and in some cases, not effective at all.
In September 2009, Johnson & Johnson, through its subsidiary
Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., entered into a strategic
collaboration with Crucell for the development and commercialization
of a universal mAb product (flu-mAb) for the treatment and prevention
of influenza. An important recent step in the development of this
flu-mAb has been the first production of this antibody product in a
mobile and fully disposable FlexFactory®.
Universal influenza vaccine (Discovery/Pre-clinical)
The exciting flu-mAb research and development has laid the basis for
the discovery and development of a vaccine that could protect against
all subtypes of influenza virus.
Hepatitis C antibody combination (Pre-clinical)
Hepatitis C is a disease of the liver, caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV).
The virus can be transmitted by direct blood contact, for instance by
sharing contaminated needles among drug users or by needle stick
injuries in healthcare settings.
Hepatitis C is a major global public health problem. A significant
proportion of people (20–50%) develop progressive liver disease leading
ultimately to liver cirrhosis, liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma
(HCC). 1 Most people who have been infected develop chronic disease.
Symptomatic chronic HCV patients can be treated with antiviral agents
(usually a combination of pegylated interferon and ribavirin), but with
limited success. The only treatment option for end-stage liver disease
is transplantation. HCV-induced cirrhosis is the leading cause for liver
transplantation. It is estimated that up to 170 million people worldwide
(3% of the world’s population) are infected with HCV. There is no
available vaccine against HCV.
In August 2009, Crucell obtained an exclusive license from Stanford
University (Palo Alto, California) for the development of an antibody
combination against HCV. A large panel of fully human mAbs against
HCV is being evaluated by Crucell in a proof of concept phase. The mAbs
have been found to neutralize the virus across all genotypes tested and
each recognizes a different part of the HCV surface protein.
19