Ablynx invests in new facilities to support growth
Belgian company Ablynx, a pioneer in the discovery and development of Nanobodies, a novel class of antibody-derived therapeutic proteins, has secured an agreement with a consortium to use 70% of the capacity of a 10,000m2 cutting-edge laboratory facility on the Technologiepark in Zwijnaarde, Ghent.
Belgian company Ablynx, a pioneer in the discovery and development of Nanobodies, a novel class of antibody-derived therapeutic proteins, has secured an agreement with a consortium to use 70% of the capacity of a 10,000m2 cutting-edge laboratory facility on the Technologiepark in Zwijnaarde, Ghent.
The consortium, comprising DG Infra+, B.S.I. and Foremost Immo, has committed to invest in the development of the Bio-Accelerator, which is expected to be completed by mid-2010. The facility will be close to Ablynx's existing facilities.
Ablynx is developing a portfolio of Nanobody-based therapeutic programmes in a number of major disease areas, including inflammation, thrombosis, oncology and Alzheimer's disease. Nanobodies have been generated against more than 100 different disease targets and efficacy data has been obtained in 25 in vivo models.
Ablynx's lead programme, ALX-0081, a novel antithrombotic, is in a multi-dose Phase 1b study in patients. ALX-0681, a subcutaneous form of ALX-0081, is in advanced preclinical development.
Ablynx's second preclinical candidate is ALX-0141, a fully humanised Nanobody that targets the Receptor Activator for Nuclear Factor kappa B Ligand (RANKL), a molecule important in bone metabolism. Ablynx aims to develop ALX-0141 for a range of indications including the prevention of osteoporosis. Other indications include bone metastases in cancer and bone erosion associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Ablynx's TNF-alpha programme, licensed to Wyeth Pharmaceuticals is in advanced preclinical development.
"We are very pleased to have secured this agreement with the consortium. This allows us to further establish a centre of excellence for Nanobody technology in Ghent and consolidate our Belgian operations in the state-of-the-art Bio-Accelerator," said Dr Edwin Moses, ceo and chairman of Ablynx.
The company aims to file five IND equivalents for its wholly-owned products by 2012.
Recently the company was awarded a grant worth Euro 1.8m (£1.4m) by the Institute for the Promotion of Innovation by Science and Technology in Flanders (IWT). The grant, which is over three years, allows Ablynx to further develop technologies related to its Nanobody platform and will enable the company to expand its intellectual property portfolio.