Dutch biotechnology company Crucell N.V. and the Netherlands Vaccine Institute (NVI) have signed an agreement to manufacture West Nile virus vaccine for use in human clinical trials at NVI's new BSL-3 (Biosafety Level 3) plant. Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands officially opened the plant here on last Friday.

The NVI, an agency of the Dutch ministry of health, is responsible for the national vaccine supply in the Netherlands. The NVI is one of the few institutes in the world that makes vaccines for its home country on request from the government. Annual revenues of the NVI are in excess of € 80 million and the agency employs over 400 people. The new vaccine plant is the first BSL-3 plant in the world to meet new, more stringent safety conditions set forth in 2003 by the World Health Organization (WHO). The plant is suitable for the production of vaccines against serious diseases such as polio, SARS, pandemic influenza and West Nile virus, Crucell said in a release.

"Production of our West Nile virus clinical trial material for use in human trials is a key next step in our route to licensure of this vaccine," said Ronald Brus, president and CEO of Crucell. "We are fortunate to have access to NVI's world class facilities for the production of these materials," he added later.

Thijs Veerman, managing director of the NVI said, "I am pleased to work together with the renowned Dutch company Crucell. With this cooperation we will make an important contribution to the protection against emerging infectious diseases."

In June 2003, Crucell announced its decision to develop a West Nile virus vaccine for use in humans based on the company's PER.C6 technology. To date, Crucell has successfully developed the vaccine production process, has concluded extensive animal studies in geese, and has produced West Nile virus veterinary vaccine. This work was carried out in collaboration with Israeli Kimron Veterinary Institute. Market authorization in Israel of a veterinary vaccine for use in geese was granted in June 2004, the release added.