Crucell Awarded Grant to Develop Pandemic Influenza Vaccine

Dutch biotech company Crucell announced it had received a grant from the European Commission for the development of a pandemic influenza vaccine. The grant, totaling 1.7 million euros, will finance preclinical and clinical testing of H5N1 vaccines.

"Crucell has long been involved in the development of a pandemic influenza vaccine, and this grant is another important step toward Crucell's goal of meeting critical global needs for a pandemic influenza vaccine," Jaap Goudsmit, Crucell's chief scientific officer, said. "With a vaccine already in clinical trial based on H9N2, Crucell broadens its pandemic influenza vaccine portfolio adding another potential pandemic strain."

Three influenza subtypes, H5, H7 and H9, have caused highly pathogenic avian influenza, according to the company. Although currently most vaccine development has focused on H5N1 strains, avian H7 and H9 influenza subtypes remain a pandemic threat and have caused infection in humans in Asia and Europe since 1996.

In January the company won a European Commission grant worth 2.4 million euros for the development of a two-component pediatric malaria vaccine.