Crucell Receives NIH Award for the Development of Influenza Monoclonal Antibodies

LEIDEN, NETHERLANDS--(Marketwire - August 18, 2009) -

Dutch biopharma company
Crucell N.V. (Euronext, Nasdaq: CRXL; Swiss Exchange: CRX) today
announced that it received a National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases (NIAID)/National Institutes of Health (NIH)
contract aimed at advancing the development of monoclonal antibodies
for the treatment of seasonal and pandemic influenza. The contract
provides funding of up to $40.7 million, with additional options that
may be triggered at the discretion of the NIH worth a further $28.4
million, bringing the potential total amount to $69.1 million.

"With the world now at pandemic alert level six, and recent reports
of A/H1N1 oseltamivir resistance occurring, the timing of this
contract is extremely important" said Dr. Jaap Goudsmit, Crucell's
Chief Scientific Officer. "It will allow Crucell and its partners to
pursue a new approach for the treatment of the disease caused by both
seasonal and pandemic influenza strains."

Crucell has developed a set of unique human monoclonal antibodies
that have been shown to protect against a wide range of distinct
seasonal and pandemic influenza viruses. These antibodies are active
against the seasonal H1N1 viruses, which show widespread resistance
to oseltamivir (Tamiflu), the current first-line therapeutic. They
were also found to be active against the pandemic 'swine flu' H1N1
influenza viruses and the avian H5N1 'bird flu' viruses, which are
still circulating in Asia. In December 2008, Crucell published
pre-clinical data showing the prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy
of these antibodies in the online journal PLoS ONE. This was followed
in February 2009 by a breakthrough publication in the journal Science
elucidating the mechanism of action of the most potent of these
antibodies.

The NIH award confirms the validity of Crucell's innovative antibody
approach, spearheaded by the rabies monoclonal program.

Crucell will be the primary contractor with additional services being
supplied by Quintiles Guys Drug Research Unit and RetroScreen Ltd,
both located in London, as well as Viroclinics and Central Veterinary
Institute, both located in the Netherlands.

About Influenza

Influenza, commonly known as 'flu', affects large sections of the
world's population each year. The disease is characterized by annual
winter outbreaks, which often reach epidemic proportions due to
the fact that the virus can mutate quickly, often producing new
strains against which human beings do not have immunity. Typical
symptoms of flu are usually relatively mild but can become life
threatening in vulnerable patient groups, such as the elderly and
immunodeficient individuals. In a growing number of countries, small
children have been added to the list of preferred protection groups.
Transmission of the flu virus occurs through airborne particles and
upon infection, the incubation period ranges from one to three days.
Each year approximately 5%-15% of the world's population contracts
influenza and an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 people die annually
from influenza-associated complications according to the World Health
Organization. As well as these annual epidemics, a major genetic
shift in the influenza virus can occasionally lead to a deadly new
virus strain to which the human population does not have immunity,
resulting in a global pandemic.
An influenza pandemic is a rare but recurrent event. Three pandemics
occurred in the previous century: 'Spanish influenza' in 1918, 'Asian
influenza' in 1957, and 'Hong Kong influenza' in 1968. The 1918
pandemic caused an estimated 40 to 50 million deaths worldwide. That
pandemic, which was exceptional, is considered one of the deadliest
disease events in human history. Subsequent pandemics were much
milder, with an estimated 2 million deaths in 1957 and 1 million
deaths in 1968.

About Influenza antibodies H1N1 and H5N1

Crucell has discovered the first human monoclonal antibodies for the
prevention and treatment of the 'bird flu' strain H5N1, as well as
H1N1, which is similar to the strain responsible for the 'Spanish
flu' in 1918. The antibodies provide immediate protection and
neutralize a broad range of H5N1 and H1N1 strains in pre-clinical
models. In December 2008, Crucell presented data showing that the
mAb CR6261 was 100% successful in preventing infection with H5N1.
When given after H5N1 infection, Crucell's mAb demonstrated the
ability to prevent death and cure disease in all cases. The mAb also
performed significantly better than the anti-influenza drug
oseltamivir for the prevention and treatment of H1N1 infection,
illustrating the potential use for seasonal applications as well.
This is especially important as the resistance of influenza strains
for oseltamivir is rapidly increasing.

About MAbstract® Technology

Crucell's proprietary MAbstract® technology can be used to discover
drug targets, such as cancer markers or proteins from infectious
agents including bacteria and viruses, and to identify human
antibodies against those drug targets.

About Crucell

Crucell N.V. (Euronext, NASDAQ: CRXL; Swiss Exchange: CRX) is a
global biopharmaceutical company focused on research development,
production and marketing of vaccines, proteins and antibodies that
prevent and/or 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 aluminum-free hepatitis A vaccine on the market. The Company
has a broad development pipeline, with several product candidates
based on its unique PER.C6® production technology. The Company
licenses its PER.C6® technology and other technologies to the
biopharmaceutical industry. Important partners and licensees include
DSM Biologics, sanofi-aventis, Novartis, Wyeth, GSK, CSL and Merck &
Co. Crucell is headquartered in Leiden, the Netherlands, with
subsidiaries in Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Korea and the U.S.
The Company employs over 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 April
22, 2009, in the section entitled 'Risk Factors'. The Company
prepares its financial statements under International Financial
Reporting Standards (IFRS).

For further information please contact:

Crucell N.V.
Oya Yavuz
Vice President
Corporate Communications & Investor Relations
Tel. +31-(0)71-519 7064
ir@crucell.com
www.crucell.com

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