Crucell NV Swine Flu (NASDAD: CRXL)

crucell-lungCrucell is currently developing the only adjuvanted flu vaccine against the influenza virus licensed for all age groups (up from 6 months). The specific H1N1 virus vaccine is still undergoing the final stages of clinical trials.

Laboratories are carefully considering the use of adjuvants for the new swine flu vaccine, an ingredient used to extend the vaccine’s active ingredients, but they have never been tested on pregnant women and children.

The US regulatory authorities, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), have never authorized the use of adjuvants in vaccines, so the risks for side effects and possible complications on a large scale are unknown.

crucell-inflexal-vCrucell influenza vaccine, Inflexal V, is registered in 43 countries and has extensive market experience, with more than 40 million doses confirming its safety profile. We can only hope that the success rate continues with their new swine flu vaccine.

Based on patented technology, Crucell’s influenza vaccine; which follows World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations, could provide vaccination to stop a swine flu pandemic crisis.

Crucell NV Company Overview

Crucell NV originally started in 1993 as a small company called IntroGene, with a focus on gene therapy. It then evolved into an advance biotech research facility and now is one of the top pharmaceutical companies in Europe.

crucell-pillsIn early 2006, Crucell and Swiss Berna Biotech merged to become the sixth largest vaccine company worldwide. It is now also known as Crucell Berna.

Combined with partner DSM Biologics, Crucell have also recently opened a research and development facility in the U.S which will help develop specific advancements in biotechnology and healthcare treatments.

With headquarters in Netherlands and research and development facilities in Spain, Switzerland, and Sweden, Crucell’s mission is to develop, produce and market vaccines and antibodies that prevent or treat infectious diseases such as the swine flu.

crucell-emergencyThe global health company is currently trading on several stock markets including the NASDAQ (CRXL), Euronext (CRXL) and the Swiss Exchange (CRX).

Crucell stock price has increased barely 20% since the first swine flu symptoms were reported in April 2009, which clearly shows that a significant achievement with their swine flu vaccine won’t create an impact as much as on other top biotech companies like AVI Biopharma (AVII), Novavax (NVAX) and BioCryst Pharmaceuticals (BCRX) that have whose share price have more than double in the last 5 months.