Crucell

Crucell

Crucell was a biotechnology company specializing in the research, development, and production of vaccines and antibodies to prevent and treat infectious diseases. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Leiden, Netherlands, Crucell became a prominent player in the field of immunology and infectious disease prevention.

History

Crucell was established as a spin-off from the University of Leiden, leveraging academic research to develop commercial applications in biotechnology. The company initially focused on developing vaccines using its proprietary PER.C6 cell line technology, which allowed for the efficient production of viral vaccines.

In 2011, Crucell was acquired by Johnson & Johnson, a major American multinational corporation, and became part of its Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies. This acquisition allowed Crucell to expand its research capabilities and access broader markets.

Technology

Crucell's core technology was the PER.C6 cell line, a human cell line developed for the production of biopharmaceuticals. This technology was crucial in the development of vaccines for diseases such as influenza, hepatitis B, and rabies. The PER.C6 cell line offered advantages in terms of scalability, safety, and efficiency compared to traditional egg-based vaccine production methods.

Products

Crucell developed several vaccines that were distributed globally:

• Quinvaxem: A pentavalent vaccine that protects against five major childhood diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type b.
• Epaxal: A hepatitis A vaccine that used virosome technology to enhance immune response.
• Inflexal V: An influenza vaccine that also utilized virosome technology.

Research and Development

Crucell was involved in numerous research collaborations and partnerships to advance vaccine technology. The company worked with organizations such as the World Health Organization and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop vaccines for diseases prevalent in developing countries, including malaria and tuberculosis.

Acquisition by Johnson & Johnson

In 2011, Crucell was acquired by Johnson & Johnson for approximately $2.4 billion. This acquisition was part of Johnson & Johnson's strategy to expand its vaccine portfolio and enhance its capabilities in the prevention of infectious diseases. Post-acquisition, Crucell continued to operate as part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies, focusing on vaccine development and production.

Also see

• Vaccine production
• Biotechnology companies
• Johnson & Johnson
• PER.C6 cell line
• Infectious diseases