Crucell and Kimron Veterinary Institute Announce Anticipated Approval of West Nile Veterinary Vaccine Early 2004

04-Sep-2003

Leiden, The Netherlands - Dutch biotechnology company Crucell N.V. and Israeli Kimron Veterinary Institute announced today that they anticipate approval of a veterinary West Nile vaccine in early 2004. Kimron had previously expected to register the PER.C6(TM)-based West Nile veterinary vaccine at the end of 2004. Based on encouraging results from the initial pre-clinical studies, Kimron now will conduct a field trial during the 2003 mosquito season to ensure that the licensed vaccine is available before the start of the 2004 mosquito season.

Kimron signed a license agreement with Crucell in June 2003 to use Crucell's PER.C6(TM) cell line technology to develop a West Nile veterinary vaccine. The PER.C6(TM)-based West Nile veterinary vaccine is a whole-killed vaccine, which means that the virus is inactivated, yet able to elicit a strong and effective immune response. The new vaccine is expected to have improved purity at competitive costs.

Kimron will commence a large trial involving approximately 2,000 geese to test the PER.C6(TM)-based West Nile veterinary vaccine under field conditions. The geese will be vaccinated two times within a 14-day interval followed by direct exposure to the live West Nile virus. Depending on the success of the field trial, it is likely that the PER.C6(TM)-based West Nile veterinary vaccine will be approved for use in geese in early 2004.

Geese are natural targets for the West Nile virus. Geese can contract a West Nile virus infection resulting in West Nile fever and possibly neurological disease and death. In Israel, West Nile virus affected the country's goose population resulting in severe morbidity and mortality until vaccination with a West Nile veterinary vaccine was implemented. Kimron intends to replace their existing West Nile veterinary vaccine, which is currently produced on mouse brains, with the PER.C6(TM)-based vaccine.

Kimron has commercial rights to the whole-killed West Nile veterinary vaccine in Israel, and will pay Crucell a royalty on sales. Crucell will receive the commercial rights to the vaccine outside of Israel.

https://www.bionity.com/en/news/28289/crucell-and-kimron-veterinary-institute-announce-anticipated-approval-of-west-nile-veterinary-vaccine-early-2004.html