DSM Biologics and Crucell N.V. (Euronext, NASDAQ: CRXL; Swiss Exchange: CRX)
announced today that they have entered into an agreement with Bioceros B.V. of
Utrecht, The Netherlands to join their Vendor Network. Under the terms of the
agreement, Bioceros will be a pre-approved cell line generation partner for
licensees of the PER.C6® cell line located in the European Union.
Karen King, president of DSM Biologics notes, "The growing number of PER.C6®
licensees requires that we expand the possibilities for our licensees to
obtain services like cell line generation. We are confident that Bioceros’
excellent experience and service level will provide our European licensees
additional options to move their PER.C6® programs forward successfully."
Bram Bout, CEO of Bioceros added "We are honored to achieve the distinction of
being the first pre-approved Europe-based cell line generation partner using
the PER.C6® cell line. The PER.C6® technology is recognized throughout our
industry as providing important advantages compared to other platforms,
including its well developed technology, which allow for short manufacturing
timelines and exceptionally high productivity levels with off the shelf
available culture media. The selection of Bioceros as a preferred Vendor by
DSM and Crucell underscores the high quality of the services that we offer to
our customers".
The PER.C6® technology platform has been developed for the large-scale
manufacture of biopharmaceutical products such as recombinant proteins,
including monoclonal antibodies. Compared to conventional production
technologies, the strengths of PER.C6® technology lie in its excellent safety
profile, scalability and productivity under serum-free culture conditions. By
employing the PER.C6® human cell line and DSM's proprietary XD™ technology, a
record yield of over 27 grams per liter in the production of IgG antibodies
has been achieved.
Other terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
PER.C6® technology
Crucell's PER.C6® technology platform
has been developed for the large-scale manufacture of biopharmaceutical
products such as recombinant proteins including monoclonal antibodies.
Compared to conventional production technologies, the strengths of PER.C6®
technology lie in its excellent safety profile, scalability and productivity
under serum-free culture conditions.
XD™ technology
DSM's XD™ technology has been developed as a proprietary system to drive yield
improvements in mammalian systems. "XD" stands for extreme density, as the
process is able to push the cell density within the bioreactor to maximum
productivity.
Bioceros B.V.
Bioceros is a biotech company focusing on
pre-clinical development of protein products, with an emphasis on monoclonal
antibodies. Bioceros has a technology platform, consisting of generation of
high protein producing mammalian cell lines, process development and
pre-clinical manufacturing at 20L scale in disposable bioreactors. This is all
Quality Controlled, using state of the art serum-free culture media, such that
the generated cell lines can be used for GMP manufacturing. In addition,
Bioceros has vast experience in pre-clinical development of monoclonal
antibodies, including proof of concept and toxicology studies in animals.
Bioceros uses this technology platform to offer services to the industry and
academia, and to develop its own pipeline of monoclonal antibody products.
Bioceros is located in Utrecht, the Netherlands. For more information, please
visit www.bioceros.com.
Crucell
Crucell N.V. (Euronext, NASDAQ: CRXL; Swiss Exchange:
CRX) is a global biopharma company focused on research, development,
production and marketing of vaccines, proteins and antibodies that prevent and
treat primarily infectious diseases. Its vaccines are sold in public and
private markets worldwide. Crucell's core portfolio includes a vaccine against
hepatitis B, a fully-liquid vaccine against five important childhood diseases
and a virosome-adjuvanted vaccine against influenza. Crucell also markets
travel vaccines, such as the only oral anti-typhoid vaccine, an oral cholera
vaccine and the only aluminum-free hepatitis A vaccine on the market. The
Company has a broad development pipeline, with several product candidates
based on its unique PER.C6® production technology. The Company licenses its
PER.C6® technology and other technologies to the biopharmaceutical industry.
Important partners and licensees include DSM Biologics, Sanofi-Aventis,
Novartis, Wyeth and Merck & Co. Crucell is headquartered in Leiden, the
Netherlands, with subsidiaries in Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Korea and
the US. The Company employs over 1000 people. For more information, please
visit www.crucell.com
DSM Biologics
DSM Biologics, a business unit of DSM
Pharmaceutical Products, is a global provider of manufacturing technology &
services to the biopharmaceutical industry. In addition to offering
world-class biopharmaceutical manufacturing services, DSM Biologics has
co-exclusive rights, along with Dutch biotech company Crucell N.V., to license
the high-producing PER.C6® human cell line as a production platform for
recombinant proteins and monoclonal antibodies. The combination of the PER.C6®
human cell line and DSM's manufacturing services provides companies with a
turn-key biologic manufacturing solution reducing cost, risk and time to
market. More information:
www.dsmbiologics.com
Royal DSM N.V. - The Life Sciences and Materials Sciences Company
Royal DSM N.V. creates innovative products and services in Life Sciences and
Materials Sciences that contribute to the quality of life. DSM's products and
services are used globally in a wide range of markets and applications,
supporting a healthier, more sustainable and more enjoyable way of life. End
markets include human and animal nutrition and health, personal care,
pharmaceuticals, automotive, coatings and paint, electrics and electronics,
life protection and housing. DSM has annual sales of almost EUR 8.8 billion
and employs some 23,000 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in the
Netherlands, with locations on five continents. DSM is listed on Euronext
Amsterdam. More information: www.dsm.com
DSM Forward-looking statements
This press release contains
forward-looking statements that involve inherent risks and uncertainties.
These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections
of the management of DSM and Crucell and information currently available to
both companies. The statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that
are difficult to predict and therefore DSM and Crucell do not guarantee that
their expectations will be realized. Furthermore, DSM and Crucell have no
obligation to update the statements contained in this press release. Crucell
N.V. has identified certain important factors that may cause actual results to
differ materially from those contained in such forward-looking statements. For
information relating to these factors please refer to the Form 20-F, as filed
by Crucell N.V. with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on May 7,
2008, and in particular the section entitled “Risk Factors”. Crucell N.V.
prepares its financial statements under International Financial Reporting
Standards (IFRS).