Crucell Announces Start of Universal RSV Vaccine Program

Crucell N.V. (Leiden, the Netherlands) has begun a discovery program for the development and commercialization of a universal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine. The RSV vaccine will be designed to prevent severe infections with the most common RSV strains in infants and the elderly. This RSV program is part of an existing strategic collaboration with Johnson & Johnson, through its subsidiary Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., that was signed in September 2009.

The September 2009 for the development of a universal monoclonal antibody product for the treatment and prevention of influenza A. It also involves four programs that focus on the development of a universal influenza A vaccine and products directed against three other disease targets. Activities for the universal influenza A vaccine started in January. The design of the universal influenza A vaccine will be based on specific epitopes (binding sites) that are recognized by broadly cross-neutralizing influenza antibodies. The universal RSV vaccine has been selected as the second innovation program; selection of the two other innovation targets is ongoing.