You're timing wasn't perfect... but then, it was better than mine. <g>
nig
LEIDEN, Netherlands, Sept. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Crucell N.V. (Nasdaq: CRXL - news; Euronext Amsterdam: CRXL), today announced that it has appointed Judith Heikoop as Director of Business Development for its human cell line business. Mrs. Heikoop will be responsible for the commercialization of Crucell's human cell line expression platform, PER.C6(TM), as a production platform for human antibodies and therapeutic proteins.
Mrs. Heikoop joins Crucell after three years at McKinsey & Co., where she was extensively involved with numerous companies in the pharmaceutical industry. Prior to this she worked from 1994 to 1998 as a Senior Research Scientist for N.V. Organon (AKZO Nobel), in The Netherlands where she was involved in the market launch of the recombinant Follicle Stimulation Hormone (Puregon, Follistim). Mrs. Heikoop holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry.
``Crucell's PER.C6(TM) cell line has been widely accepted by the pharmaceutical industry for the production of vaccines and vector development purposes,'' said Dinko Valerio, CEO of Crucell. ``Our recent research suggests the enormous potential and versatility of PER.C6(TM) for the production of human antibodies and therapeutic proteins. We are convinced that PER.C6 will encounter the same success as the product currently experiences for vaccine production purposes and vector development applications.''
Notes:
PER.C6(TM) is derived from healthy human cells in a controlled and documented manner, and is one of the most extensively documented and characterized cell lines with a Biologics Master File at the FDA. The cell line can be grown in a serum free environment, enabling cost effective scale up for manufacturing, and reducing the risk of contamination through pathogen in blood. PER.C6(TM) can easily and rapidly be scaled up from laboratory growth to industrial scale production.
About Crucell
Crucell, a leading biotechnology company, discovers and develops biopharmaceutical products that utilize the immune system to combat disease. Crucell's human technology platforms, MAbstract(TM) and PER.C6(TM), are applicable for discovery and development of antibody and vaccine products. Crucell's MAbstract(TM) discovery and development programs are focused on human antibody-based therapeutics for treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases. Crucell's vaccine programs are focused on the prevention and treatment of influenza and other infectious diseases. Crucell enters into licensing or co-development agreements for its in-house products, or starts new target discovery and product development programs with partners.
Currently, Crucell has five fully human antibodies in various stages of pre-clinical development for the treatment of colon cancer, breast cancer, anti-angiogenesis, leukemia and inflammation. Additional programs have been launched in oncology, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. In August 2001, the company entered into an agreement with Centocor, Inc., for the development and commercialization of its CD46-specific human antibodies for the treatment of cancer.
Crucell's PER.C6(TM) fully human production cell line technologies are made available under license agreements for antibodies, proteins, vaccines and vector technology applications. Crucell has currently signed 18 PER.C6(TM) agreements with major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
Crucell has a listing on NASDAQ and Euronext, and has raised EUR 144 million in its October 2000 IPO. Crucell currently employs approximately 130 people in its facilities in Leiden and Utrecht. |
