Crucell and DSM Biologics sign research agreement

13/03/06 Dutch biotechnology company Crucell N.V. and allied contract manufacturer DSM Biologics have announced that they have signed a PER.C6 research license agreement with Japanese pharmaceutical company UMN Pharma.

This license agreement allows UMN Pharma to use the PER.C6 cell line in its ’UMN-03’ project, which aims to employ a fusion protein in the treatment of muscular dystrophy and metabolic diseases such as obesity and type II diabetes mellitus. In addition, Crucell and DSM Biologics will provide UMN Pharma with various services including vector construction, clone generation, process development and cGMP manufacturing, through its own facilities in Groningen, The Netherlands and within the PER.C6 vendor network.

Under the terms of the agreement, UMN Pharma will pay a signing fee and annual maintenance fees. The additional services will also attract fees. Further financial details are not disclosed.

DSM Biologics, a business unit of DSM Pharmaceutical Products, is a leading provider of manufacturing technology & services to the biopharmaceutical industry. In addition to offering world-class biopharmaceutical manufacturing services, DSM Biologics has co-exclusive rights, along with Dutch biotech company Crucell N.V., to license the high-producing PER.C6 human cell line as a production platform for recombinant proteins and monoclonal antibodies.