DSM Biologics, a business unit of DSM Pharmaceutical Products, and Dutch
biotechnology company Crucell N.V. (Euronext, NASDAQ: CRXL; Swiss Exchange:
CRX), today announced that Hungary-based Gedeon Richter Plc. signed a
commercial license agreement allowing Gedeon Richter to develop and produce
certain biopharmaceuticals on the PER.C6® platform.
Other terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
About 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.
About 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.
About 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.
About 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.
DSM – 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).