Belgium: Novartis extends Ablynx collaboration for nanobody development

Collaboration agreement extended

Ablynx, a spin-out from VIB and the Free University of Brussels, in Ghent, Belgium, has extended its collaboration with Novartis to continue developing its proprietary antibody-derived therapeutic proteins, known as Nanobodies. The agreement extends the collaboration in place since 2005, granting Novartis exclusive rights to develop and commercialise products resulting from the collaboration, for an additional year.

Nanobodies are small and highly stable therapeutic proteins that are being developed to treat inflammation, thrombosis, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. They combine the features small-molecule molecule drugs and conventional antibody therapeutics.

Under the terms of the agreement Ablynx will receive licence fees, funding for research and development, and will be eligible for milestone payments and royalties upon commercialisation.

Edwin Moses, of Ablynx, said: "We are very pleased with our collaboration with Novartis, one of the leading pharmaceutical companies with a significant track record in innovative drug development, and we look forward to continuing to work together with the goal to advance Nanobody-based programmes into the clinic."