DSM Biologics and Crucell Announce PER.C6® Technology Licensing Deal with Recepta biopharma
Sittard/Leiden, The Netherlands, October 30, 2007 – DSM Biologics, a business unit of DSM Pharmaceutical Products and Dutch biotechnology company Crucell N.V. (Euronext, NASDAQ: CRXL; Swiss Exchange: CRX) today announced that they have signed a non-exclusive PER.C6® technology research licensing agreement with Brazilian-based Recepta biopharma S.A. This agreement allows Recepta biopharma to use the PER.C6® technology to develop four antibodies it has licensed-in from the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research. Financial details were not disclosed.
About PER.C6® Technology
Crucell's PER.C6® technology platform has been developed for the large-scale manufacture of biopharmaceutical products such as recombinant proteins including monoclonal antibodies. Compared to conventional production technologies, the strengths of PER.C6® technology lie in its excellent safety profile, scalability and productivity under serum-free culture conditions.
About Recepta biopharma
RECEPTA biopharma is a biotechnology company dedicated to the research and development of monoclonal antibodies to be used in the treatment of cancer. Monoclonal antibodies are biological molecules that have the capacity to recognize and attach to specific targets on tumor cells. Monoclonal antibodies have already been established as an effective therapeutic option for cancer patients. The company's principal scientific partner, the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research (LICR), headquartered in New York, has licensed to RECEPTA biopharma the intellectual property rights of four antibodies with demonstrated potential for use in the treatment of several types of cancer. RECEPTA biopharma is also dedicated to generating new antibodies for clinical use.
A Brazilian company, RECEPTA biopharma was founded using an innovative model - based on partnerships with universities, research institutes and hospitals - to optimize the utilization of the scientific and technological excellence of the country's research system. With the collaboration of internationally accomplished scientists, the Company is using technology innovation in biotechnology in order to respond to the needs of society and the Brazilian biotechnology market. All of these actions aspire to produce effective medicines and less expensive treatments.
About Crucell
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 aluminium-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.
About DSM Biologics
DSM Biologics, a business unit of DSM Pharmaceutical Products, is a global provider of manufacturing technology and services to the biopharmaceutical industry. In addition to offering world-class biopharmaceutical manufacturing services, DSM Biologics has co-exclusive rights, along with Dutch biotech company Crucell N.V., to license the high-producing PER.C6® human cell line as a production platform for recombinant proteins and monoclonal antibodies. DSM Biologics’ FDA-approved facility in Groningen, The Netherlands, was established in 1986 and has a strong track record in using a broad range of cell lines (PER.C6®, CHO, hybridoma, etc.) in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, and has a wide range of experience using multiple manufacturing (batch, fed-batch and continuous perfusion) and purification techniques. The combination of the PER.C6® human cell line and DSM’s manufacturing services provides companies with a turn-key biologic manufacturing solution reducing cost, risk and time to market. For more information, please visit www.dsmbiologics.com.
About DSM
DSM is active worldwide in nutritional and pharma ingredients, performance materials and industrial chemicals. The company develops, produces and sells innovative products and services that help improve the quality of life. DSM’s products are used in a wide range of end-markets and applications, such as human and animal nutrition and health, personal care, pharmaceuticals, automotive and transport, coatings and paint, housing and electrics & electronics (E&E). DSM’s strategy, named Vision 2010 – Building on Strengths, focuses on accelerating profitable and innovative growth of the company’s specialties portfolio. The key drivers of this strategy are market-driven growth and innovation plus an increased presence in emerging economies. The group has annual sales of over €8 billion and employs some 22,000 people worldwide. DSM ranks among the global leaders in many of its fields. The company is headquartered in the Netherlands, with locations in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and the Americas. More information about DSM can be found at www.dsm.com.