Universal Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine

In June Crucell announced the start of a discovery program leading to the development and commercialization of a universal Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine.

The RSV vaccine will be designed to prevent severe infections with the most common RSV strains in infants and the elderly.

This discovery program is part of the strategic collaboration with JNJ (mentioned above).

About RSV

RSV is the most important cause of viral lower respiratory illness in infants and children. RSV-induced disease is the last of the major paediatric diseases for which no preventive vaccine is available. Current prevention in developed countries is based on the administration of an RSV-neutralizing antibody, which is given to high-risk infants, in particular premature newborns. RSV also induces severe disease in immunocompromized adults and elderly with weak immune systems, for whom the costly antibody is not available.