BPC was originally established in 1990 by Berna Biotech AG, the Swiss vaccine company acquired by Crucell in February 2006. It was formed in order to market Vivotif, Berna's oral typhoid fever vaccine, in the US and Canada. The company was acquired by Acambis in 2003 and has since grown successfully, including Vivotif's gaining of market share in 2005 while its primary competitor was off the market. Revenues of US$ 6.8 million in 2004 increased to US$ 12.9 million in 2005, with profits of US$ 5.3 million. Vivotif has managed to retain part of the gained market share in the year-to-date, 2006.
"It makes good sense for Crucell to gain full control of Vivotif's sales in the US, which is the biggest market with the most attractive margins," said Crucell's CEO, Ronald H.P. Brus. "Further, BPC will now assume the role of our sales organization in the US. We intend to use the sales and marketing potential the company has already demonstrated so successfully with Vivotif as a platform for future growth in the US, including the potential launch of new products."
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 and a virosome-adjuvanted vaccine against influenza. Crucell also markets travel vaccines, such as the only oral anti-typhoid vaccine and the only aluminum-free hepatitis A vaccine on the market. The Company has a broad development pipeline, including both early-stage products and products almost ready to go to market. Several Crucell products are based on its unique PER.C6® 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 and Korea. The Company employs about 900 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 July 6, 2006, 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:
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Crucell N.V.
Paul Vermeij
Director Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Tel. +31-(0)71-524 8718
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For Crucell in the US:
Redington, Inc.
Thomas Redington
Tel. +1 212-926-1733
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