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Dutch biotechnology
company Crucell N.V. (Euronext, NASDAQ: CRXL, Swiss Exchange: CRX)
today announced the discovery of a set of human monoclonal antibodies
against H5N1. These results, demonstrating the potential of human
monoclonal antibodies for pandemic preparedness, were presented today
at the 5th International Bird Flu Summit held in Las Vegas, Nevada.

A total of twenty one human monoclonal antibodies were discovered.
These were found to be able to neutralize the H5N1 virus of avian
influenza, which currently presents a global threat. The most potent
of the antibodies was shown to neutralize the broadest range of H5N1
strains that have emerged between 1997 and 2004. This antibody may
therefore provide a powerful tool in pandemic preparedness. In
addition, this antibody prevents flu, in pre-clinical models, when
given twenty four hours before a challenge with a lethal dose of
highly pathogenic H5N1 virus. When given three days after infection,
it also was shown to prevent death and cure the disease.

“Our discovery of potent human monoclonal antibodies against a number
of different H5N1 pandemic flu types, provide proof of concept that
antibodies are a serious alternative to vaccination or antiviral
treatment”, said Dr. Jaap Goudsmit, Chief Scientific Officer of
Crucell. “What is most encouraging is the fact that these antibodies
are not only able to prevent infection, but also open the possibility
to treat infected individuals. Treatment with this antibody provides
an instantaneous antiviral response, which is an advantage over the
delayed immune response after (prepandemic) vaccination.”

The set of monoclonal antibodies, which was produced by Crucell
researchers using phage display and Crucell PER.C6® technology,
showed the potential to neutralize distinct H5N1 viruses,
A/Vietnam/11994/04, A/Hong Kong/213/03 and A/Hong Kong/156/97. The
antibodies apparently recognize a part of the viral membrane protein
that is present among all H5N1 viruses tested. The most potent
neutralizing antibody was tested in pre-clinical models for the
ability to protect against infection with the highly pathogenic
A/Hong Kong/97 H5N1 virus and was also tested for its ability to stop
the development of the disease caused by this virus. When the
monoclonal antibody was given in a pre-clinical model, one day prior
to infection with the H5N1 virus, it resulted in full protection
against infection. Treatment with the antibody up to three days after
infection, resulted in 100% survival and cure of the disease.

About Pandemic Influenza

Influenza is a highly infectious virus which spreads easily from
person to person. In a pandemic, a new and more virulent virus
infectious for humans arises with the potential to cause severe
disease and high mortality. H5N1 Viruses isolated from wild and
domestic birds and from humans since the outbreaks in Hong Kong
separate in distinct genetic groups (clade and subclades) of closely
related viruses. Clade 1 virus circulated in Cambodia, Thailand and
Viet Nam and caused infections in humans in 2004 and 2005. Clade 2
viruses circulated in China and Indonesia in 2003 -2004 and spread to
the Middle East, Africa and Europe in 2005 and 2006.

About Crucell

Crucell N.V. (Euronext, NASDAQ: CRXL; Swiss Exchange: CRX) is a
biotechnology company focused on research, development and worldwide
marketing of vaccines and antibodies that prevent and 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
aluminium-free hepatitis A vaccine on the market. The Company has a
broad development pipeline, with several Crucell products based on
its unique PER.C6® production technology. The Company licenses this
and other technologies to the biopharmaceutical industry. Important
partners and licensees include DSM Biologics, sanofi aventis, GSK and
Merck & Co. Crucell is headquartered in Leiden (the Netherlands),
with subsidiaries in Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Korea and the
US. The Company employs over a 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 June 13,
2007, and the section entitled “Risk Factors”. The Company prepares
its financial statements under generally accepted accounting
principles in the United States (US GAAP) and Europe (IFRS).

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