Leiden, The Netherlands, October 01, 2002 - Dutch antibody and vaccine company Crucell N.V. (Euronext, NASDAQ: CRXL) and San Diego-based Applied Molecular Evolution, Inc. (AME) (NASDAQ: AMEV) announced today that they have signed a non-exclusive, worldwide PER.C6(TM) research license agreement allowing AME to evaluate the production of monoclonal antibodies on the PER.C6(TM) human cell line. AME also has an option for a non-exclusive, worldwide commercial product license to manufacture one or more specified monoclonal antibody products on the PER.C6(TM) cell line.

 

Additionally, Crucell has granted AME the right to enter into collaborations with third parties for the research and development of monoclonal antibody products produced through AME programs on the PER.C6(TM) cell line.  Under the terms of the agreement, Crucell will receive an upfront payment, annual maintenance fees and royalties on future sales of any products manufactured on the PER.C6(TM) cell line. Further financial details were not disclosed.

 

"AME's capabilities are significantly broadened by access to Crucell's PER.C6(TM) system which will enable the expression of our optimized antibodies in a human cell line," stated William D. Huse, M.D., Ph.D., President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of AME.  "The combination of AME's proprietary frAMEworks(TM) technology, which utilizes human germ-line antibody frameworks, and the PER.C6(TM) system will enable us to produce optimized monoclonal antibodies with human glycosylation patterns, offering potential improvements in safety and efficacy."

 

"This licensing agreement with AME is significant to Crucell because AME is recognized as a biotechnology company with expertise in optimizing existing monoclonal antibody therapeutics and developing novel antibodies," said Ronald H.P. Brus, M.D., Chief Business Officer of Crucell. "Additionally, it confirms the growing interest in the market for selecting PER.C6(TM) as a robust, scalable cell line for monoclonal antibody production. Crucell's agreement with AME is the third PER.C6(TM) licensing agreement this year since the launch of PER.C6(TM) as a protein production platform."

 

About Crucell

Crucell N.V. discovers and develops biopharmaceuticals that use the human immune system to combat cancer, infectious diseases and other conditions.  Crucell leverages its patented technologies, MAbstract(TM), AdVac(TM), and PER.C6(TM), for discovery, development and production of antibodies and vaccines.  Crucell offers its technologies to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry and also uses them to create its own product pipeline.  Partners include Merck & Co. for the HIV vaccine, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the Ebola vaccine and Centocor, a Johnson & Johnson company, for the CD46 antibody for treatment of various types of cancer.  In addition, Crucell has over 20 licensees for its PER.C6(TM) technology.  These include Novartis, GSK, Aventis and Schering AG.  With headquarters in Leiden, The Netherlands, the company currently employs 200 people.  Crucell is listed on Euronext and NASDAQ (ticker symbol CRXL).  For more information visit www.crucell.com.

 

Applied Molecular Evolution, Inc., (AME) is a leader in applying directed molecular evolution to improve healthcare by optimizing and developing human biotherapeutics. Directed molecular evolution is a process for optimizing genes and proteins for specific commercial purposes. Since its inception, AME's principal focus has been on applying its proprietary AMEsystem(TM) technology platform to human biotherapeutics, the largest market for directed molecular evolution. Biotherapeutics, or biopharmaceuticals, are protein pharmaceuticals such as antibodies, cytokines, hormones and enzymes. AME uses its proprietary technology to develop improved versions of currently marketed, FDA-approved biopharmaceuticals as well as novel human biotherapeutics.  For more information please visit www.AMEvolution.com.