Dutch biotechnology company Crucell N.V. has signed a manufacturing contract with the Vaccine Research Centre (VRC), part of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), for the manufacture of vaccines against Ebola infections.

Under the terms of the contract, Crucell will manufacture up to ten batches of clinical material of the PER.C6-based Ebola vaccine in its own manufacturing facility. These materials will be used for Phase I and early Phase II clinical studies in humans. Crucell will receive up to € 21.4 million (US$ 27.6 million) from the VRC for the manufacturing of these clinical lots, the release said.

"We are pleased to have continued the expansion of our relationship with the VRC on the development of this novel vaccine against bioterrorism," said Crucell's chief scientific officer, Jaap Goudsmit.