Ablynx and P&G extend Nanobody deal
Nanobody drug discovery and development agreement to metabolic
targets in a move that reinforces the feeling within the industry
regarding Nanobody technology and its potential.
The new arrangements build on the original agreement between the two companies formed in July 2004 and has been extended to now include metabolic disease targets.
Commenting on the partnership extension, Edwin Moses, Chief Executive Officer of Ablynx said: "The extension of our collaboration with them underlines their confidence in both the Nanobody technology and in our ability to deliver valuable drug candidates."
Nanobody-based therapeutics combines features of conventional antibodies, with desirable properties of small-molecule drugs. Because of their unique structure they can address therapeutic opportunities that are beyond the reach of conventional antibodies or their fragments, for example targeting epitopes such as receptor clefts, enzyme active sites and viral canyon sites.
Nanobodies are manufactured in microorganisms, which also present a significant cost advantage in comparison to production methods for conventional antibodies.
Under the terms of the agreement, >Proctor and Gamble Pharmaceuticals (P&GP), provides Ablynx with research and development funding, milestone payments, and royalties upon commercialisation.
>Ablynx is responsible for discovering Nanobodies that meet an agreed product profile. P&GP assumes responsibility for the pre-clinical and clinical development of lead Nanobodies, as well as the commercialisation of any resulting drug products. Financial terms of the agreement are not disclosed.
Ablynx is currently developing a portfolio of additional Nanobody based therapeutic programs in a number of disease areas, including inflammation, thrombosis, oncology and Alzheimer's disease.
Ablynx has already generated Nanobodies against more than twenty different disease targets. The company has obtained positive in vivo efficacy data from animal studies in five major therapeutic programs in four disease areas.
Currently, three of these programs are in advanced preclinical development, and Ablynx expects to have progressed two of those into clinical trials by 2007.
