Crucell originally started in 1993 as a small company called IntroGene. IntroGene was founded by Prof. Dinko Valerio, Dr. Dick van Bekkum and Dr. Bob Lowenberg to focus on gene therapy. The company then developed in 1995 the PER.C6^® human cell line for the expression of biologics, initially for virus-based products. During the next five years the applications of the PER.C6^® technology were expanded, before the acquisition in 2000 of MAbstract^® technology company U-Bisys to form Crucell.

In early 2006, Crucell and Swiss Berna Biotech joined forces to become the sixth largest vaccine company worldwide. Later in the year, Crucell further strengthened its presence in the vaccine industry through the acquisitions of US-based Berna Products and Sweden’s SBL Vaccin AB.

1980's | 1990's | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007

1898

• Foundation of Berna Biotech as Swiss Serum and Vaccine Institute

1909

• SBL Vaccin founded as State Medical Institution in Stockholm, Sweden

1981

• Berna Biotech registers Vivotif^®, the first live-attenuated vaccine for oral immunization against typhoid fever

1987

• Berna Biotech register MoRu-Viraten^®, the vaccine for protection against measles and rubella

1989

• Berna Biotech receives FDA license for Vivotif^® in the United States, the only oral anti-typhoid vaccine

1991

• SBL Vaccin registers Dukoral^® in Sweden, the only oral vaccine with documented efficacy against diarrhea caused by cholera

1993

• Introgene founded, Crucell’s predecessor. Introgene partners with Genzyme to collaborate on IntroGene vector technology and viral-based products
• Berna Biotech registers Epaxal^®, the first virosomal aluminium-free vaccine for the active immunization against hepatitis A

1995

• IntroGene develops PER.C6^® technology in full collaboration with Leiden University
• SBL Vaccin registers Dukoral^® for the entertoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) indication 

1996

• U-Bisys founded and develops MAbstract^® technology to derive fully human antibodies specifically against diseased cells

1997

• IntroGene launches PER.C6^® technology for commercial production of gene-based therapies
• Berna Biotech registers Inflexal^® V, first trivalent virosomal vaccine for active immunization against influenza

1999

• IntroGene expands PER.C6^® technology into new fields: development of vaccines, therapeutic proteins and monoclonal antibodies
• Galapagos founded as a joint venture between Introgene and Tibotec

2000

• IntroGene acquires U-Bisys to form Crucell
• Crucell N.V. successfully listed on Euronext and NASDAQ under ticker symbol CRXL. The IPO raises € 144 million

2001

• Crucell introduces AdVac^® technology for development of new and more effective vaccines

2002

• Berna Biotech acquires Rhein Biotech; inlcuding Korean manufacturing facilities, hepatitis B franchise and Asian markets
• DSM Biologics and Crucell announce alliance for industrial-scale development and production of recombinant proteins and monoclonal antibodies

2003

• Crucell adjusts its strategy to focus on developing products to combat infectious and other diseases
• Crucell and sanofi pasteur enter a strategic agreement to develop and commercialize novel PER.C6^® cell-based influenza vaccines

2004

• Crucell acquires ChromaGenics and its STAR^® technology to strengthen its strategic position in protein production technology
• First PER.C6^®-based product to market as West Nile virus veterinary vaccine for geese granted market approval in Israel
• Crucell and DSM alliance achieves first milestone and signs 8 PER.C6^® research license agreements for protein production
• SBL Vaccin registers Dukoral^® in the European Union

2005

• Crucell’s partner, sanofi pasteur, is awarded $ 97 million contract by US Government to accelerate licensure in the US of a PER.C6^® based cell-culture influenza vaccine and vaccine manufacturing facility
• Crucell and NIH sign € 21.4 million Ebola Vaccine Manufacturing Contract
• Galapagos raises € 22.4 million through its IPO on Euronext Brussels and Euronext Amsterdam stock exchanges. Crucell retains a 10% holding in Galapagos Genomics B.V.
• Crucell raises € 52.2 million through new ordinary shares offering
• Harvard and Crucell receive a $19.2 million NIH grant to develop next-generation AdVac^®-based vaccines
• Crucell and DSM strengthen and expand PER.C6^® protein and monoclonal antibody licensing business. New joint R&D centers to be located in the Netherlands and US East Coast

2006

• Crucell successfully completes public offer for Berna Biotech AG to form the leading independent vaccine company
• Crucell starts trading shares on SWX Swiss Exchange
• Crucell announces product approval in Korea for Quinvaxem^® vaccine
• Crucell and DSM announce establishment of PERCIVIA PER.C6^® R&D center in Boston area. The partnership also initiates PER.C6^® licensing business Vendor Network for monoclonal antibodies and recombinant proteins

• Crucell announces WHO prequalification for Quinvaxem^® vaccine

• Crucell announces acquisition of US-based Berna Products Corporation

• Crucell successfully completes the acquisition of SBL Vaccin AB in Sweden

2007

• Crucell’s West Nile vaccine demonstrates excellent safety and tolerability in Phase I study

• Crucell announces Vaccine and Protein Business Unit Structure

• Crucell’s rabies antibody cocktail shows safety and ability to protect following Phase I study