Leiden, The Netherlands, March 23, 2007 - Dutch biotechnology company Crucell N.V. (Euronext, NASDAQ: CRXL; Swiss Exchange: CRX) today announced that children in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, have received their first dose of Quinvaxem(TM) vaccine. Ethiopia is the most populous GAVI Alliance supported country to date to have Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) immunization included in its routine immunization programme. Quinvaxem(TM) is a new fully-liquid pentavalent vaccine which protects against five important childhood diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib).  Hib is a significant cause of life-threatening pneumonia and meningitis in children under 5 years of age with pneumonia being the leading cause of under-5 mortality. 

 

Quinvaxem(TM) has now been introduced in several Latin American and African countries vaccination programs supported and co-financed by supranational organizations.

 

"The multiple year contracts that the supranational organizations have granted to Crucell, underline Crucell's place as a leading supplier of such important vaccines. Quinvaxem(TM) is the first internationally available fully-liquid vaccine containing these five life saving antigens and it will make a significant contribution to children's vaccination programs in the developing world," said Crucell's President and CEO, Dr. Ronald H.P. Brus. "Quinvaxem(TM) will be an important contributor to the company's 2007 total revenues, being estimated in excess EURO 200 million  and our objective to be cash neutral in 2007." 

 

Quinvaxem(TM) was co-developed with Novartis and is produced in Crucell's laboratories in South Korea. Current demand for the vaccine exceeds 50 million doses. The total market potential is estimated to be 150 million doses per year in 3 to 4 years.

 

Crucell N.V. (Euronext, NASDAQ: CRXL; Swiss Exchange: CRX) is a biotechnology company focused on research, development and worldwide marketing of vaccines and antibodies that prevent and treat 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 Crucell products based on its unique PER.C6® production technology. The Company licenses this and other technologies to the biopharmaceutical industry. Important partners and licensees include DSM Biologics, sanofi aventis, GSK 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 a 1000 people. For more information, please visit www.crucell.com.