Biotech company Ablynx wins European Mediscience Award: http://tiny.cc/knen6
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Website: http://www.ablynx.com
Email:
Phone: +32 9 262 00 00
FlandersBio Member
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Founded in 2001 as a spin-off of VIB and VUB, Ablynx is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of Nanobodies(R), a novel class of therapeutic proteins based on single-domain antibody fragments, for a range of serious and life-threatening human diseases. The Company currently has over 230 employees. Ablynx completed a successful IPO on Euronext Brussels [ABLX] on 7 November 2007.
Founded in 2001 in Ghent, Belgium, Ablynx is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of Nanobodies, a novel class of therapeutic proteins based on single-domain antibody fragments, for a range of serious and life-threatening human diseases. The Company currently has over 230 employees. Ablynx completed a successful IPO on Euronext Brussels [ABLX] on 7 November 2007.
Ablynx is developing a portfolio of Nanobody-based therapeutics in a number of major disease areas, including inflammation, thrombosis, oncology and Alzheimer’s disease. Ablynx now has over 25 programmes in its therapeutic pipeline including four Nanobodies in clinical development. So far, Nanobodies have been successfully generated against more than 190 different protein targets including several complex targets such as chemokines, GPCRs, ion channels and viruses, which are typically very difficult to approach with conventional monoclonal antibodies. Efficacy data have been obtained in 28 in vivo models for Nanobodies against a range of different targets.
Ablynx has an extensive patent position in the field of Nanobodies for healthcare applications. It has exclusive and worldwide rights to more than 130 families of granted patents and pending patent applications, including the Hamers patents covering the basic structure, composition, preparation and uses of Nanobodies.
Ablynx has ongoing research collaborations and significant partnerships with several major pharmaceutical companies, including Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck Serono, Novartis and Pfizer (previously Wyeth Pharmaceuticals). Ablynx is building a diverse and broad portfolio of therapeutic Nanobodies through these collaborations as well as through its own internal discovery programmes.
The Company’s lead programme, ALX-0081, an intravenously administered novel anti-thrombotic entered a Phase II study in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in September 2009. Ablynx demonstrated proof-of-concept by biomarker for ALX-0081 in December 2009. ALX-0681 subcutaneous administration of the anti-von Willebrand factor (vWF) Nanobody has concluded Phase I.
In September 2009, Ablynx’s partner Pfizer entered a Phase II study in RA patients, with an anti-TNF-alpha Nanobody.
In December 2009, Ablynx initiated a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled Phase I study with ALX-0141, a Nanobody targeting Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor kappa B Ligand (RANKL), in healthy postmenopausal women. ALX-0061, an anti-IL6R Nanobody is in preclinical development for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. More recently, in February 2010, Ablynx announced that it reached its criteria for preclinical development for ALX-0651, a Nanobody against CXCR4, and Ablynx will progress this programme towards the clinic. CXCR4 plays an important role in cell movement, tumor growth and metastasis.
Nanobody® is a registered trademark of Ablynx NV.
Nanobodies® are antibody-derived therapeutic proteins that contain the unique structural and functional properties of naturally-occurring heavy-chain antibodies. The Nanobody® technology was originally developed following the discovery that camelidae (camels and llamas) possess fully functional antibodies that lack light chains. These heavy-chain antibodies contain a single variable domain (VHH) and two constant domains (CH2 and CH3). Importantly, the cloned and isolated VHH domain is a perfectly stable polypeptide harbouring the full antigen-binding capacity of the original heavy-chain antibody. These newly discovered VHH domains with their unique structural and functional properties form the basis of a new generation of therapeutic antibodies which Ablynx has named Nanobodies®.
Ablynx’s Nanobodies® combine the advantages of conventional antibodies with important features of small molecule drugs. Like conventional antibodies, Nanobodies® show:
However, like small molecule drugs they have the opportunity to inhibit enzymes and readily access receptor clefts. Furthermore, Nanobodies®:
Ablynx’s Nanobodies® have a high homology with the VH domains of human antibodies and can be further humanised without any loss of activity. Importantly, Nanobodies® have a low immunogenic potential, which has been confirmed in primate studies with Nanobody® lead compounds.
The Company’s lead programme, ALX-0081, an intravenously administered novel anti-thrombotic entered a Phase II study in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in September 2009. Ablynx demonstrated proof-of-concept by biomarker for ALX-0081 in December 2009. ALX-0681 subcutaneous administration of the anti-von Willebrand factor (vWF) Nanobody has concluded Phase I.
In September 2009, Ablynx’s partner Pfizer entered a Phase II study in RA patients, with an anti-TNF-alpha Nanobody.
In December 2009, Ablynx initiated a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled Phase I study with ALX-0141, a Nanobody targeting Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor kappa B Ligand (RANKL), in healthy postmenopausal women. ALX-0061, an anti-IL6R Nanobody is in preclinical development for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. More recently, in February 2010, Ablynx announced that it reached its criteria for preclinical development for ALX-0651, a Nanobody against CXCR4, and Ablynx will progress this programme towards the clinic. CXCR4 plays an important role in cell movement, tumor growth and metastasis.
With Boehringer Ingelheim:
• Ablynx signed a $265 million exclusive worldwide research and licensing agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim to develop a new Alzheimer’s treatment using Ablynx’s Nanobodies.
• Ablynx entered into a global strategic alliance to discover, develop and commercialise up to 10 different Nanobody therapeutics with Boehringer Ingelheim with a total potential deal value of €1.3 billion. The Companies will collaborate jointly in the discovery of Nanobodies against agreed targets across multiple therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and respiratory disease.
With Merck Serono:
Ablynx has entered into an agreement with Merck Serono, to co-discover and co-develop Nanobodies® against two targets (oncology and immunology). The Companies will share 50/50 all research and development costs and any resulting profits. The agreement includes an upfront cash payment to Ablynx of €10 million.
With Novartis:
Ablynx and Novartis collaborate to discover and develop novel Nanobody based therapeutics against a number of disease targets for a range of disease areas including targets that are difficult to address with conventional antibodies or their fragments.
With Pfizer (previously Wyeth Pharmaceuticals):
Ablynx has an exclusive worldwide research and licensing agreement with Pfizer to discover, develop and commercialise Nanobodies directed at the TNA-alpha protein and its receptors against a range of relevant indications. Pfizer also initiated a Phase II study in September 2009 for its anti-TNF alpha Nanobody®.
Address:
Bio-incubator
Technologiepark 21
9052
Ghent
Belgium
Route: Via Google Maps
Website: http://www.ablynx.com
Phone: +32 9 262 00 00
Fax: +32 9 262 00 01
Foundation date: 11/2001
Email:
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