Johnson & Johnson and Crucell to develop influenza therapies

Published: 28-Sep-2009

Johnson & Johnson has bought an 18% stake in biopharmaceutical company Crucell as part of a deal to collaborate on the development of vaccines for the treatment and prevention of influenza.


Johnson & Johnson has bought an 18% stake in biopharmaceutical company Crucell as part of a deal to collaborate on the development of vaccines for the treatment and prevention of influenza.

The US company will pay Euro 301.8m for 14.6 million newly issued shares in the Dutch firm. In addition, the companies have agreed to milestones and royalty payments based on the development and commercialisation of products in connection with the collaboration.

The companies will collaborate on the development of flu-mAb, a universal monoclonal antibody product against influenza. In the longer term, the companies aim to develop a universal influenza vaccine as well as monoclonal antibodies and/or vaccines directed against up to three other infectious and non-infectious diseases.

Crucell will work with J&J subsidiary Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals to develop a universal flu-mAb product targeting all influenza A strains, including H1N1 (swine flu) and the H5N1 or avian strain (bird flu). Crucell will carry out r&d through to Phase IIa trials for antibodies it has already discovered, as well as new antibodies that emerge from the collaboration. Ortho-McNeil-Janssen will handle late-stage development of the flu-mAb product from Phase IIb onwards.

Ortho-McNeil-Janssen will hold the rights for products resulting from both collaborations in all countries with the exception of the EU and certain additional European countries.

"Despite significant advances in prevention and treatment, influenza remains a major health threat, and each year, vaccines must be formulated to address the current influenza strain," said Paul Stoffels, global head of pharmaceuticals r&d at Johnson & Johnson.

On 18 August, Crucell received a US National Institutes of Health (NIH) contract aimed at advancing the development of monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of seasonal and pandemic influenza. The contract provided funding of US$40.7m with additional options worth a further US$28.4m that may be triggered at the discretion of the NIH, bringing the potential total to US$69.1m. This funding will be used for Crucell's work in the flu-mAb collaboration.

Annual flu epidemics are thought to result in 3-5 million cases of severe illness and more than 350 thousand deaths every year around the world.

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