Crucell plans to double sales of vaccines within three years, Quinvaxem a major driver of growth

By Jennifer Lanning Drey

Eugene, Ore., June 13 - Crucell NV plans to double product sales of vaccines by increasing sales of existing vaccines and bringing new products onto the market during the next two to three years, according to Leonard Kruimer, chief financial officer of the company.

Quinvaxem, a liquid vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B and Hemophilus influenza type b, will be key to the growth, said Kruimer in a presentation at the Goldman Sachs health care conference held Tuesday.

"The approval of the Quinvaxem vaccine is very important to us. It is one of the major drivers toward increasing sales over the next few years in the entire company," said Kruimer.

Crucell will begin a series of phase 1 clinical trials of Quinvaxem during the next year, he said.

The Korea Food and Drug Administration approved Quinvaxem in March, and the company plans to begin marketing it to organizations such as the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef), said Kruimer on Tuesday.

Crucell also intends to launch Flavimun, a yellow fever vaccine, in the first half of 2007 in Germany and Switzerland, he said.

In addition, the company expects phase three data on Aerugen, a drug used to prevent colonization of infection in the lungs in patients with cystic fibrois, in the third quarter.

In its early stage clinical pipeline, Crucell has a West Nile vaccine in clinical testing in Europe with safety data expected in the fourth quarter. It has also begun a major pandemic trial with the University of Leicester in England to test the safety and efficacy of a shot developed by Berna Biotech AG, which Crucell acquired earlier this year.

Potential tuberculosis, Ebola and malaria products are each scheduled to begin critical phases in the next few months. Trials testing a rabies antibody will begin later this year, Kruimer said.

While growing its pipeline of vaccines, Crucell also plans to work toward licensing its PERC6 technology, which can support production of a number of difficult-to-produce proteins and antibodies, Kruimer said.

"The licensing is a way for us to introduce other companies to working with our technology and feeding the potential for future royalty streams, Kruimer said.

Crucell, based in Leiden, The Netherlands, is a biotechnology company focused on research, development and marketing of vaccines and antibodies that prevent and treat infectious diseases.

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