LEIDEN, NETHERLANDS -- (Marketwire) -- 08/17/09 -- Dutch biopharma company Crucell N.V. (Euronext, Nasdaq: CRXL) (SWISS: CRX) today announced that a large supranational organization has awarded the first portion of new contracts worth $300 million for supplies of Crucell's Quinvaxem® paediatric vaccine. The new contracts are the largest ever received by Crucell and cover the period 2010-2012, with the initial awarded amount expected to grow even further over those three years.

These contracts are in addition to the $500 million obtained over the tender period 2007-2009, and support the superior quality and reliability of Crucell's fully-liquid pentavalent vaccine. They bring the total value of contracts awarded since the launch of Quinvaxem® at the end of 2006 to $800 million. During the first tender round in 2006, Crucell was initially awarded $230 million (Dec 2006) and received additional incremental awards of $130 million and $140 million in May and September, 2008, respectively.

"This new award for the period 2010-2012 emphasizes Crucell's position as a leading supplier of important vaccines. We are very proud that by means of our pentavalent vaccine we are able to save lives by making a significant contribution to children's vaccination programs in the developing world," said Ronald Brus, Crucell's Chief Executive Officer.

Following the WHO prequalification in September 2006, the combination fully liquid pentavalent vaccine was made available to supranational purchasing organizations. Supranational organizations are major customers for combination vaccines, which are used in large vaccination programs in developing countries.

Quinvaxem® is a fully liquid vaccine combining antigens for protection against five potentially deadly childhood diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type B (hib). As the first internationally available fully liquid vaccine containing all five of these antigens, Quinvaxem® offers major healthcare advantages, particularly in countries with a challenging infrastructure and hygiene problems.

About Crucell

Crucell N.V. (Euronext, NASDAQ: CRXL) (SWISS: 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.