UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 6-K
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REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
October 15, 2007
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CRUCELL NV
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
P.O. BOX 2048 ARCHIMEDESWEG 4 2333 CN LEIDEN THE NETHERLANDS
(Address of principal executive offices)
000-30962
(Commission File Number)
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:
Form 20-F [X] Form 40-F [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes [ ] No [X]
PRESS RELEASE
MEDIMMUNE AND CRUCELL ANNOUNCE COLLABORATION TO DEVELOP NEW ANTIBODIES FOR THE
TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED BACTERIAL INFECTION
GAITHERSBURG, MD, USA AND LEIDEN, THE NETHERLANDS - OCTOBER 15, 2007 - MedImmune
and Crucell N.V. (Euronext, NASDAQ: CRXL) announced today that they have entered
into an exclusive license and research collaboration to further develop and
commercialize one of Crucell's panels of bacterial antibodies primarily for the
treatment and prevention of hospital-acquired bacterial infection.
Under the agreement, MedImmune is to provide Crucell certain upfront, annual and
milestone payments potentially exceeding US$ 40 million, plus research and
development (R&D) funding and an undisclosed royalty on product sales.
Under the terms of the agreement, Crucell has granted MedImmune an exclusive
license to research, develop and commercialize antibodies within one of its
MAbstract(R)-technology programs. In addition MedImmune will have access to
Crucell's antibody capabilities for further R&D.
The partnership combines Crucell's unique antibody discovery, research and
development capabilities with MedImmune's expertise in clinical development and
commercialization of anti-infective antibodies.
In 2005, Crucell announced the initiation of several new antibody discovery
programs in the field of hospital-acquired infections. Under the terms of the
license agreement announced today, Crucell has now entered into a partnership
with MedImmune for one of these programs. Crucell has discovered and developed
these unique anti-bacterial antibodies using its proprietary MAbstract(R)
technology.
"As a company strongly committed to the prevention of infectious disease, we are
excited to expand our research to include a broader program in bacterial
infection through this collaboration with Crucell," said JoAnn Suzich, Ph.D.,
MedImmune's senior director, infectious disease research.
"We are confident that this collaboration will accelerate the development of
this urgently needed therapeutic to circumvent antibiotic resistant infections
and we are immensely proud that MedImmune, a leader and innovator in the field
of infectious disease prevention, has chosen us as its partner," said Dr. Jaap
Goudsmit, CSO of Crucell. "This is an important validation of Crucell's
capabilities and potential in the development of novel therapeutic antibodies."
ABOUT MABSTRACT(R) TECHNOLOGY
Crucell's proprietary MAbstract(R) technology can be used to discover drug
targets, such as cancer markers or proteins from infectious agents including
bacteria and viruses, and to identify human antibodies against those drug
targets.
ABOUT HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED BACTERIAL INFECTIONS
In the U.S. and Europe, hospital-acquired bacterial infections affect about two
million patients per year, causing more than 200,000 deaths. Attributable costs
amount to more than US$ 5 billion per year in the U.S. alone.
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria increase the severity of disease, escalating
mortality rates and driving up costs. The rise in hospital-acquired infections
caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria presents an opportunity for the
development of alternative treatments replacing or complementing antibiotics.
ABOUT MEDIMMUNE
MedImmune strives to provide better medicines to patients, new medical options
for physicians and rewarding careers to employees. Dedicated to advancing
science and medicine to help people live better lives, the company is focused on
the areas of infectious diseases, cancer and inflammatory diseases. With
approximately 3,000 employees worldwide and headquarters in Maryland, MedImmune
is wholly owned by AstraZeneca plc (LSE: AZN.L, NYSE: AZN). For more
information, visit MedImmune's website at http://www.medimmune.com.
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(R) 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.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve inherent
risks and uncertainties. We have identified certain important factors that may
cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in such
forward-looking statements. For information relating to these factors please
refer to our Form 20-F, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission on June 13, 2007, and the section entitled "Risk Factors". The
Company prepares its financial statements under generally accepted accounting
principles in the United States (US GAAP) and Europe (IFRS).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
CRUCELL MEDIA: CRUCELL INVESTORS/ANALYSTS:
Barbara Mulder Oya Yavuz
Director Corporate Communications Director Investor Relations
Tel: 31-(0) 71 519 7346 Tel. +31-(0) 71-519 7064
press@crucell.com ir@crucell.com
www.crucell.com www.crucell.com
MEDIMMUNE MEDIA: MEDIMMUNE/ASTRAZENECA INVESTORS/ANALYSTS:
Jamie Lacey Peter Vozzo
Tel: 301-398-4035 Tel: 301-398-4358
www.medimmune.com www.medimmune.com
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1934, the registrant has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto
duly authorized.
CRUCELL NV
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(Registrant)
October 15, 2007 /s/ LEON KRUIMER
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(Date) Leon Kruimer
Chief Financial Officer