Dutch, Israeli Researchers Developing West Nile Virus Vaccine

Crucell N.V., a Dutch biotechnology company, and the Israel-based Kimron Veterinary Institute are anticipating the approval of their veterinary West Nile Virus (WNV) in Israel in early 2004. Based on encouraging results from their early work, they will conduct a field before the end of this year on approximately 2,000 geese using the vaccine. A spokesman for Crucell said the vaccine should work in horses and there are plans to get approval to market it in the U.S. Crucell and Kimron are also developing a human WNV vaccine.