Dutch biotechnology company Crucell N.V. today announced the results of the first clinical evaluation of the Rabies monoclonal antibody cocktail
LEIDEN, The Netherlands | October 3, 2007 | Dutch biotechnology company Crucell N.V. (Euronext, NASDAQ: CRXL; Swiss Exchange: CRX) today announced the results of the first clinical evaluation of the Rabies monoclonal antibody cocktail, a combination of two human monoclonal antibodies.
Data from the First-in-Man Phase I study conducted in the US indicates that the cocktail is well tolerated, provides the expected neutralizing activity and that it can be administered in combination with rabies vaccine. Crucell is developing this human monoclonal antibody cocktail for the post-exposure prophylaxis of rabies, using its MAbstract® and PER.C6® technologies.
Details regarding the US Phase I trial data are presented today by Dr. Alexander Bakker at the XVIII Rabies in the Americas RITA conference in Guanajuato City, Mexico.
The clinical trial was a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study in healthy volunteers that tested the human monoclonal antibody cocktail against rabies alone, in a dose escalation, as well as in combination with rabies vaccine. In the first, blinded, part of the study, in which solely the antibody cocktail was given, rabies virus neutralizing activity could be demonstrated at all dose levels that were administered. In the second, open, part of the study, in which the rabies antibody cocktail was administered in combination with rabies vaccine, all volunteers seroconverted within 14 days upon the initiation of treatment, which means a level of rabies virus neutralizing activity that is considered to provide protection against the deadly virus (i.e. > 0.5 IU/mL) was achieved. This shows that the antibody cocktail can be safely co-administered inline with standard therapy.
"Given the unmet medical need in rabies, we are committed to move as fast as possible; people deserve to be protected against rabies," said Dr. Jaap Goudsmit, Chief Scientific Officer at Crucell. "The continued progress of the phase I clinical trial provides further validation of our PER.C6® and MAbstract® technologies."
Data from the Phase I clinical trial in India, to assess safety and efficacy, will be reported during the Joint International Tropical Medicine Meeting 2007 on November 30, 2007 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Crucell meanwhile has contracted DSM Biologics, its alliance partner for the PER.C6® technology platform, for the process validation and manufacturing of antibody batches for Phase III clinical efficacy studies.
About Rabies
Rabies is a viral disease of mammals most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. The virus infects the central nervous system, causing encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and ultimately death if medical intervention is not sought promptly after exposure.
There is no proven treatment for rabies once symptoms of the disease have appeared. Lethal rabies is prevented by post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) via the combined administration of a rabies vaccine and RIG following the bite of a rabid animal. Current supply and quality of rabies vaccine is sufficient, but RIG is in short supply and carries certain safety risks.
Rabies is prevalent in Europe, Asia, North and South America as well as Africa. Every year, approximately 10 million people are vaccinated worldwide. With the exception of the US and Europe, most of these people do not receive RIG due to shortages and are therefore not adequately protected. As a result, an estimated 40,000 to 70,000 people die of the disease each year, mainly in Asia. Based on market needs, peak sales for our cocktail are expected to exceed $300 million.
Crucell develops the antibody cocktail using its PER.C6® technology, which offers large-scale manufacturing capabilities and production under serum-free culture conditions. Crucell’s rabies monoclonal antibody cocktail offers the potential for replacing the traditional serum-derived products that are currently still in use for the treatment of rabies.
About MAbstract® technology
Crucell’s proprietary MAbstract® technology can be used to discover drug targets, such as cancer markers or proteins from infectious agents including bacteria and viruses, and identify human antibodies against those drug targets.
About PER.C6® technology
Crucell’s PER.C6® technology is a cell line developed for the large-scale manufacture of biopharmaceutical products including vaccines. Compared to conventional production technologies, the strengths of the PER.C6® technology lie in its excellent safety profile, scalability and productivity under serum-free culture conditions. These characteristics, combined with its ability to support the growth of both human and animal viruses, make PER.C6® technology the biopharmaceutical production technology of choice for Crucell’s current and potential pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners.
SOURCE: CRUCELL
Post Views: 109
Dutch biotechnology company Crucell N.V. today announced the results of the first clinical evaluation of the Rabies monoclonal antibody cocktail
LEIDEN, The Netherlands | October 3, 2007 | Dutch biotechnology company Crucell N.V. (Euronext, NASDAQ: CRXL; Swiss Exchange: CRX) today announced the results of the first clinical evaluation of the Rabies monoclonal antibody cocktail, a combination of two human monoclonal antibodies.
Data from the First-in-Man Phase I study conducted in the US indicates that the cocktail is well tolerated, provides the expected neutralizing activity and that it can be administered in combination with rabies vaccine. Crucell is developing this human monoclonal antibody cocktail for the post-exposure prophylaxis of rabies, using its MAbstract® and PER.C6® technologies.
Details regarding the US Phase I trial data are presented today by Dr. Alexander Bakker at the XVIII Rabies in the Americas RITA conference in Guanajuato City, Mexico.
The clinical trial was a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study in healthy volunteers that tested the human monoclonal antibody cocktail against rabies alone, in a dose escalation, as well as in combination with rabies vaccine. In the first, blinded, part of the study, in which solely the antibody cocktail was given, rabies virus neutralizing activity could be demonstrated at all dose levels that were administered. In the second, open, part of the study, in which the rabies antibody cocktail was administered in combination with rabies vaccine, all volunteers seroconverted within 14 days upon the initiation of treatment, which means a level of rabies virus neutralizing activity that is considered to provide protection against the deadly virus (i.e. > 0.5 IU/mL) was achieved. This shows that the antibody cocktail can be safely co-administered inline with standard therapy.
"Given the unmet medical need in rabies, we are committed to move as fast as possible; people deserve to be protected against rabies," said Dr. Jaap Goudsmit, Chief Scientific Officer at Crucell. "The continued progress of the phase I clinical trial provides further validation of our PER.C6® and MAbstract® technologies."
Data from the Phase I clinical trial in India, to assess safety and efficacy, will be reported during the Joint International Tropical Medicine Meeting 2007 on November 30, 2007 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Crucell meanwhile has contracted DSM Biologics, its alliance partner for the PER.C6® technology platform, for the process validation and manufacturing of antibody batches for Phase III clinical efficacy studies.
About Rabies
Rabies is a viral disease of mammals most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. The virus infects the central nervous system, causing encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and ultimately death if medical intervention is not sought promptly after exposure.
There is no proven treatment for rabies once symptoms of the disease have appeared. Lethal rabies is prevented by post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) via the combined administration of a rabies vaccine and RIG following the bite of a rabid animal. Current supply and quality of rabies vaccine is sufficient, but RIG is in short supply and carries certain safety risks.
Rabies is prevalent in Europe, Asia, North and South America as well as Africa. Every year, approximately 10 million people are vaccinated worldwide. With the exception of the US and Europe, most of these people do not receive RIG due to shortages and are therefore not adequately protected. As a result, an estimated 40,000 to 70,000 people die of the disease each year, mainly in Asia. Based on market needs, peak sales for our cocktail are expected to exceed $300 million.
Crucell develops the antibody cocktail using its PER.C6® technology, which offers large-scale manufacturing capabilities and production under serum-free culture conditions. Crucell’s rabies monoclonal antibody cocktail offers the potential for replacing the traditional serum-derived products that are currently still in use for the treatment of rabies.
About MAbstract® technology
Crucell’s proprietary MAbstract® technology can be used to discover drug targets, such as cancer markers or proteins from infectious agents including bacteria and viruses, and identify human antibodies against those drug targets.
About PER.C6® technology
Crucell’s PER.C6® technology is a cell line developed for the large-scale manufacture of biopharmaceutical products including vaccines. Compared to conventional production technologies, the strengths of the PER.C6® technology lie in its excellent safety profile, scalability and productivity under serum-free culture conditions. These characteristics, combined with its ability to support the growth of both human and animal viruses, make PER.C6® technology the biopharmaceutical production technology of choice for Crucell’s current and potential pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners.
SOURCE: CRUCELL
Post Views: 109
