Crucell Updates Progress in Scale-up of Cell-culture-based Influenza Vaccine Programs
Leiden. Crucell N.V. announced that it has received a milestone payment of EUR 1 million (US$ 1.2 million) from Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines business of the sanofi-aventis group, in acknowledgement of the progress the company has made in development of novel influenza products using Crucell´s proprietary PER.C6® cell line technology. The strategic agreement between the partners covers development of both pandemic and interpandemic (seasonal) influenza vaccines.
"We have at this stage made significant progress in scaling up our cell culture production processes to develop clinical lots," said sanofi pasteur´s executive vice-president, Research and Development, Michel de Wilde. "We are excited about our collaboration with Crucell and are fully committed to our investment."
Clinical trials for sanofi pasteur´s pandemic influenza vaccine using Crucell´s PER.C6® production technology are set to begin in Spring 2006 in Norway. The trials are being conducted by FLUPAN, a collaborative research project funded by the European Union to produce a safe and effective cell-culture-based vaccine against highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses. Sanofi pasteur is the only supplier of cell-based influenza vaccine to the FLUPAN consortium. The PER.C6®-based pandemic flu vaccine will be the first influenza vaccine developed using human cell production technology to enter clinical trials in Europe.
This past April, sanofi pasteur was awarded a $97 million contract from the US Health and Human Services Department (HHS) to speed the production process for new cell-culture influenza vaccines. Sanofi pasteur expects to initiate clinical trials for an interpandemic (seasonal) vaccine using PER.C6® cell-culture technology in the US in September 2006. As part of the HHS contract, sanofi pasteur will deliver a feasibility plan for the construction of a US-based and licensed cell-culture production plant for supplying of up to 300 million monovalent influenza vaccine doses annually.
Sanofi pasteur is the world leader in the production and marketing of influenza vaccines. Under the terms of the flu vaccine agreement with sanofi pasteur, Crucell receives milestone payments, annual payments, and research and development funding and royalties on future PER.C6®-based influenza vaccine sales.
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Topic world Cell culture technology
Cell culture technology is a central pillar in biotechnological and pharmaceutical research and development. It enables the growth and maintenance of cells under controlled laboratory conditions, providing a window into the molecular and cellular processes of life.
Topic world Cell culture technology
Cell culture technology is a central pillar in biotechnological and pharmaceutical research and development. It enables the growth and maintenance of cells under controlled laboratory conditions, providing a window into the molecular and cellular processes of life.
