Revenue for the company was up by 66% with $44.5 million coming in to the company in 2005 compared with $26.8 million reported in 2004.
“Crucell has stepped up its development in 2005, moving our West Nile program into the clinic and continuing to broaden our portfolio of partnerships,” noted Crucell’s president and CEO, Ronald Brus.
Mr Brus went on to to suggest that the company’s recent all-share acquisition of the Swiss company Berna Biotech offers an opportunity for accelerated growth in the future.
Also during the year Crucell’s production technology became part of a major US government influenza pandemic vaccine program with its partner Sanofi Pasteur.
In Europe, Crucell and Sanofi also combined as the only manufacturer for the Flupan pandemic flu vaccine project, with a clinical trial starting in Q2 2006.
Meanwhile, in December, the company initiated phase I testing of its vaccine candidate for West Nile virus.