Leiden, The Netherlands, 12 November 2007 - Dutch biotechnology
company Crucell N.V. (Euronext, NASDAQ: CRXL, Swiss Exchange: CRX)
today announced that Berna Biotech AG, its wholly owned subsidiary,
has sold all the 2.9 million shares it owned in Pevion Biotech Ltd,
Bern (Switzerland) to other shareholders of Pevion Biotech. This
number of shares represents 36 percent of Pevion Biotech's capital
and results in net proceeds for Crucell of approximately CHF 10
million (¤ 6 million).
"This transaction is further proof that we are committed to focus on
the strengths of our core business", said Crucell's Chief Financial
Officer, Leonard Kruimer.
About Crucell
Crucell N.V. (Euronext, NASDAQ: CRXL; Swiss Exchange: CRX) is a
biotechnology company focused on research, development and worldwide
marketing of vaccines and antibodies that prevent and treat
infectious diseases. Its vaccines are sold in public and private
markets worldwide. Crucell's core portfolio includes a vaccine
against hepatitis B, a fully-liquid vaccine against five important
childhood diseases, and a virosome-adjuvanted vaccine against
influenza. Crucell also markets travel vaccines, such as the only
oral anti-typhoid vaccine, an oral cholera vaccine and the only
aluminium-free hepatitis A vaccine on the market. The Company has a
broad pipeline, with several products based on its unique PER.C6®
production technology in development. The Company licenses this and
other technologies to the biopharmaceutical industry. Important
partners and licensees include DSM Biologics, sanofi aventis,
Novartis, Wyeth and Merck & Co. Crucell is headquartered in Leiden
(the Netherlands), with subsidiaries in Switzerland, Spain, Italy,
Sweden, Korea and the US. The Company employs over a 1000 people. For
more information, please visit www.crucell.com.
Forward-looking statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve
inherent risks and uncertainties. We have identified certain
important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially
from those contained in such forward-looking statements. For
information relating to these factors please refer to our Form 20-F,
as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on June 13,
2007, and the section entitled "Risk Factors". The Company prepares
its financial statements under International Financial Reporting
Standards (IFRS) with reconciliation to the generally accepted
accounting principles in the United States (US GAAP).
For further information please contact:
Media: Investors/Analysts:
Barbara Mulder Oya Yavuz
Director Corporate Communications Director Investor Relations
Tel: +31-(0)71-519 7346 Tel. +31-(0)71-519 7064
press@crucell.com ir@crucell.com