Sanofi Pasteur Enters Agreement With Crucell for Next-Generation Biologicals Against Rabies
03/01/2008 09:00
PR Newswire
LYON, France, January 3 /PRNewswire/ --
- Exclusive Agreement for Rabies Monoclonal Antibodies to Fight Fatal
Disease
Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of sanofi-aventis Group,
announced today that it has signed an exclusive collaboration and
commercialization agreement with Crucell N.V. (Euronext, NASDAQ: CRXL) for
Crucell's rabies monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), next-generation rabies
biologicals to be used in association with rabies vaccine for post-exposure
prophylaxis against this fatal disease.
Rabies causes 55,000 deaths worldwide annually, mostly in
rural areas of Asia and Africa(1). Today there is no treatment for rabies
once symptoms of the disease have appeared. Post exposure prophylaxis for
severe bites requires both active immunization, using vaccines such as those
currently marketed by sanofi pasteur, and passive immunization in the form of
rabies immunoglobulins (RIG). Rabies monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) are
expected to be an innovative and potent alternative to currently used RIGs.
In the last 20 years, over 20 million people in 100 countries
have been treated with sanofi pasteur's rabies products.
"Sanofi pasteur is the global leader in providing rabies
vaccine and immunoglobulin, and the only international company to offer a
full range of rabies biologicals. Adding a next generation rabies treatment
to our well-established rabies product range will further position the
company as a leading force to help prevent this fatal disease," said Wayne
Pisano, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sanofi Pasteur. "Louis
Pasteur's first human rabies immunization in 1885 was a founding milestone
for modern vaccination and we are proud to build on his legacy with
innovative treatments."
Crucell has developed a combination of two rabies MAbs that
has shown favorable results comparable to current immunoglobulin products in
preclinical trials. Phase I clinical trials demonstrated that the MAb-based
product is well tolerated, provides the expected immediate passive
neutralizing activity, and that it can be safely administered in combination
with a rabies vaccine without interfering with the vaccine's ability to
induce an active immunity.
Under the terms of the agreement, Crucell will continue to
perform the development activities and will manufacture the final product.
Crucell will receive a payment of EUR 10 million following the execution of
the agreement and would be eligible for milestone payments of up to EUR 66.5
million.
About rabies:
Rabies is an acute viral encephalitis transmitted from animal
to animal or from animal to human by exposure to saliva. Virus in saliva
attaches to peripheral nerve endings and progresses to the brain. All
mammalian species are believed to be susceptible. Dogs are a major reservoir
of human rabies. They are responsible for most incidences of bites.
Rabies vaccination by Louis Pasteur was an important step in
the history of vaccine when, in 1885, Joseph Meister, who had been bitten by
a rabid dog, was successfully treated by successive inoculations during a
10-day period.
About sanofi-aventis
Sanofi-aventis, a leading global pharmaceutical company, discovers,
develops and distributes therapeutic solutions to improve the lives of
everyone. Sanofi-aventis is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York
(NYSE: SNY).
Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of sanofi-aventis Group,
provided more than a billion doses of vaccine in 2006, making it possible to
immunize more than 500 million people across the globe. A world leader in the
vaccine industry, sanofi pasteur offers the broadest range of vaccines
protecting against 20 infectious diseases. The Company's heritage, to create
vaccines that protect life, dates back more than a century. Sanofi Pasteur is
the largest company entirely dedicated to vaccines. Every day, the company
invests more than EUR1 million in research and development. For more
information, please visit: http://www.sanofipasteur.com or
http://www.sanofipasteur.us
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as
defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended.
Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts.
These statements include financial projections and estimates and their
underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, intentions
and expectations with respect to future events, operations, products and
services, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking
statements are generally identified by the words "expects," "anticipates,"
"believes," "intends," "estimates," "plans" and similar expressions. Although
sanofi-aventis' management believes that the expectations reflected in such
forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that
forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks and
uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond
the control of sanofi-aventis, that could cause actual results and
developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or
projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and
uncertainties include those discussed or identified in the public filings
with the SEC and the AMF made by sanofi-aventis, including those listed under
"Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements" in sanofi-aventis' annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended
December 31, 2006. Other than as required by applicable law, sanofi-aventis
does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
information or statements.
(1) WHO Rabies Fact Sheet No 99 Revised September 2006 available at
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs099/en/
Sanofi Pasteur
Pascal Barollier
Media Relations
Tel: +33-(0)4-37-37-51-41
pascal.barollier@sanofipasteur.com
Len Lavenda
Media Relations US
Tel: +1-570-839-4446
len.lavenda@sanofipasteur.com
Sanofi Pasteur: Pascal Barollier, Media Relations, Tel: +33-(0)4-37-37-51-41, pascal.barollier@sanofipasteur.com. Len Lavenda, Media Relations US, Tel: +1-570-839-4446, len.lavenda@sanofipasteur.com