Birmingham, Alabama – November 13, 2008 – Vaxin Inc., an emerging vaccine company today announced that it has entered into a new strategic collaboration with Dutch biotechnology company, Crucell N.V. (Euronext, NASDAQ: CRXL; Swiss Exchange: CRX) to utilize Crucell’s PER.C6® and adenovector technologies for research, development and commercialization of recombinant adenoviral vaccines against Alzheimer’s disease and another undisclosed indication. This agreement extends the collaboration between Vaxin and Crucell which already covers other uses of these technologies for influenza. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“This collaboration gives us added access to Crucell’s PER.C6 cell line and adenovector technologies, which have already yielded promising results for our other RCA-free adenovirus vectored vaccines,” said Bill Enright, president and chief executive officer of Vaxin. “The further application of these technologies will help us in the achievement of our goal to develop effective, safe, and cost-efficient Alzheimer’s drug regimens.”
“We are very pleased to continue our collaboration with this exciting company," said Dr. Jaap Goudsmit, Crucell's Chief Scientific Officer. "This new collaboration will enable us to participate in the development of novel vaccines against this devastating disease.”
About Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks of daily living. In most people with AD, symptoms first appear after age 60. It is the most common cause of dementia among older people, but it is not a normal part of aging. AD starts in a region of the brain that affects recent memory, then gradually spreads to other parts of the brain. Although treatments can slow the progression of AD and help manage its symptoms in some people there is currently no cure for this devastating disease.
About Crucell Crucell N.V. (Euronext, NASDAQ: CRXL; Swiss Exchange: CRX) is a global biopharma company focused on research, development, production and marketing of vaccines, proteins and antibodies that prevent and treat primarily 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 aluminum-free hepatitis A vaccine on the market. The Company has a broad development pipeline, with several product candidates based on its unique PER.C6® production technology. The Company licenses its PER.C6® technology and other technologies to the biopharmaceutical industry. Important partners and licensees include DSM Biologics, sanofi-aventis, Novartis, Wyeth 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 Vaxin: Vaxin Inc. is an emerging clinical stage vaccine company developing needle-free, single dose highly effective vaccines. These molecular vaccines are safely administered either in the nose or on the skin, taking the battle against diseases to the immune system’s front lines where the diseases are attacking, rather than injecting the vaccine inside the body where the body’s immune response is actually weaker. This also allows Vaxin’s vaccines to be mass administered by personnel without sophisticated medical training.
As a vaccine delayed may be a vaccine denied, it is crucial to produce vaccines in a timely manner, especially in the event of a pandemic or bioterrorist attack. The company’s technology platform also provides a critical tool for the rapid production of vaccines against influenza, avian influenza, anthrax, and Alzheimer’s disease utilizing molecular techniques and state of the art cell culture based manufacturing. Vaxin’s vaccines are not dependent on chicken eggs and can therefore be more reliably produced even in the event of avian epidemics.
Vaxin’s unique technology was developed by Dr. De-chu C. Tang, Vaxin’s scientific founder and Vice President of Research. Unlike current vaccines, which typically use a weakened form of the targeted disease, such as the influenza virus, Vaxin’s molecular vaccines are created by inserting only a piece of the influenza virus, the antigen, into a benign delivery vehicle. This “Trojan Horse” method increases the safety of the vaccine and virtually eliminates the risk of a vaccine reverting to a disease causing agent. Needle-free, non-replicating, single-dose molecular vaccines also have many other advantages. Patients clearly prefer vaccines which are not injected because there is no fear of needles or the pain they can cause.
Vaxin’s technology also has applications for animal health uses. Automated in ovo (in the egg) vaccination is the method of choice for the mass immunization of poultry because of the ease of administration and lower costs. Unlike most technologies that have been tried, Vaxin’s technology provides the ability to administer a protective vaccine in ovo without harming the embryo.
Forward-looking statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These forward-looking statements represent the company's judgment as of the date of this release. The company disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.