Crucell Announces Product Approval in Korea for Quinvaxem Vaccine

28-Mar-2006

Crucell N.V. announced today that the Korea food and Drug Administration (KFDA) has awarded licensure to Quinvaxem(TM), a fully liquid pentavalent vaccine to be produced by Crucell in Korea. Quinvaxem(TM) was co-developed with Chiron Corporation, which provides four of the five components as bulk.

Quinvaxem(TM) combines antigens for protection against five important childhood diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b, one of the leading causes of bacterial meningitis in children. According to Crucell, it is the first internationally available fully liquid vaccine containing all five of the above antigens to reach the market, offering a major advantage in terms of convenience of use. Supranational organizations are major customers for combination vaccines, which are used in mass vaccination programs in developing countries.

Crucell will start production of the Quinvaxem(TM) vaccine immediately at its Korean subsidiary. First sales are expected in the second half of 2006. The current demand exceeds 50 million doses, with the annual demand expected to increase to more than 150 million doses per year over the next five years.

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