Crucell Awarded $230M Vaccine Contracts

Crucell N.V. has been awarded contracts totaling more than $230 million for its Quinvaxem and Hepavax-Gene pediatric vaccines by supranational organizations. The contracts cover the next three years and the awarded amount will increase during those three years.

Following the WHO prequalification in September 2006 the combination vaccine was made available to supranational purchasing organizations. These organizations are major customers for combination vaccines, which are used in large vaccination programs in developing countries.

Quinvaxem, a fully liquid pentavalent vaccine for children, was co-developed with Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics and is produced in Crucell’s laboratories in South Korea. The vaccine combines antigens for protection against five childhood diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b, one of the leading causes of bacterial meningitis and pneumonia in children. Current demand for the Quinvaxem vaccine exceeds 50 million doses.

The Hepavax-Gene, recombinant hepatitis B vaccine, is one of the WHO’s pre-qualified vaccines for active immunization against the hepatitis B virus. Young children infected with HBV are the most likely to develop chronic infections. Hepavax-Gene was introduced in 1996 and is supplied to more than 90 countries.

“The multiple year contracts that the supranational organizations have granted to Crucell, underline Crucell’s position as a leading supplier of important vaccines. Quinvaxem is the first internationally available fully-liquid vaccine containing these five life saving antigens and it will make a significant contribution to children’s vaccination programs in the developing world,” stated Crucell’s chief executive officer, Dr Ronald H.P. Brus.