Ablynx and Boehringer Ingelheim Announce Major Global Strategic Alliance to Discover, Develop and Commercialise Novel Nanobody® Therapeutics
14 September 2007 15:31
Boehringer Ingelheim and Ablynx, the biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of Nanobodies®, recently announced a major global strategic alliance to discover, develop and commercialise up to ten different nanobody® therapeutics.
Ablynx expects to receive payments of €75 million during the research term of the collaboration which includes eur;15 million in a proposed equity investment by Boehringer Ingelheim in Ablynx. In addition, Ablynx will receive development milestone payments for each Nanobody which is developed, of up to €125 million as well as undisclosed royalties.
Ablynx and Boehringer Ingelheim will collaborate jointly in the discovery of Nanobodies against agreed targets across multiple therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and respiratory. Both parties will propose target opportunities for the collaboration with the goal of bringing Nanobody-based products rapidly to patients in need.
Boehringer Ingelheim will be exclusively responsible for the development, manufacture and commercialisation of any products resulting from the collaboration. Ablynx will have certain co-promotion rights in Europe.
Dr Edwin Moses, CEO and Chairman of Ablynx, said, "This is by far the largest financial agreement that Ablynx has signed to discover and develop innovative Nanobody therapeutics. We are delighted to strengthen our existing relationship with Boehringer Ingelheim by working together to develop innovative products across multiple therapeutic areas, taking full advantage of the powerful Nanobody discovery platform. This strategic alliance may provide the opportunity to grow Ablynx's own product pipeline."
Dr Andreas Barner, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors and Head of Corporate Board Division Pharma Research, Development and Medicine of Boehringer Ingelheim added, "Boehringer Ingelheim looks forward to an intensified cooperation with Ablynx based on their innovative Nanobody® approach. We hope that this broad collaboration will lead to breakthroughs for patients suffering from diseases which cannot be adequately treated at present."
ABOUT NANOBODIES®
Nanobodies are a novel class of antibody -derived therapeutic proteins. Because of their small size, unique structure and extreme stability, Nanobodies combine the advantages of conventional antibody therapeutics with the key features of small-molecule drugs. 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:
- High target specificity
- High affinity for their target
- Low inherent toxicity
However, like small molecule drugs they have the opportunity to inhibit enzymes and readily access receptor clefts. Furthermore, Nanobodies in comparison to conventional antibodies:
- Are extremely stable
- have the potential to be administered by means other than injection
- Are easy to manufacture
Ablynx's Nanobodies have a high homology with the VH domains of human antibodies and can be further humanised without loss of activity. Importantly, Nanobodies have a low immunogenic potential, which has been confirmed in primate studies with Nanobody lead compounds.
For more information on this company:
Boehringer Ingelheim Mexico - Production of Solid and Liquid Dosage Forms
Copyright 2007SPG Media Limited a subsidiary of SPG Media Group PLC
