MeawandMoo1 schreef:
www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/i...UPDATE 1-Crucell wins $41 mln flu contract from U.S. govt.
* To develop monoclonal antibodies for treating influenza
* Deal value may rise to $69 mln
(Adds company comment, detail)
AMSTERDAM, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Dutch biotechnology firm Crucell (CRCL.AS)(CRXL.O) said on Tuesday it had been awarded a $40.7 million U.S. government contract for the development of monoclonal antibodies for treating influenza.
Crucell said the contract from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) could be worth up to $69.1 million if additional funding is released by the NIH.
"With the world now at pandemic alert level six, and recent reports of A/H1N1 oseltamivir resistance occurring, the timing of this contract is extremely important" said Jaap Goudsmit, Crucell's chief scientific officer.
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Crucell will be the primary contractor in the new NIH contract with additional services supplied by Quintiles Guys Drug Research Unit and RetroScree in London as well as Viroclinics and Central Veterinary Institute, both located in the Netherlands.
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Crucell has been looking to tap market demand for effective treatment and prevention for both seasonal and pandemic influenza.
Last week it said it planned to kick off clinical Phase I studies of an experimental antibody-based flu drug next year amid strong government interest.
The company's chief executive, Ronald Brus, said clinical trials of its product mAb CR6261 will start in 2010, but the exact date depends on the regulatory authorities. (Reporting by Greg Roumeliotis; editing by Simon Jessop)