GHENT, BELGIUM--(Marketwire - January 20, 2009) - Ablynx [Euronext Brussels: ABLX],
a pioneer in the discovery and development of Nanobodies®, a novel
class of antibody-derived therapeutic proteins, has expanded its
musculoskeletal research portfolio by transferring in-house full
ownership of a bone disorder R&D programme initiated under its
collaboration with Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals.
This is Ablynx's second musculoskeletal programme and it complements
ALX-0141, Ablynx's Nanobody® against Receptor Activator for Nuclear
Factor kappa B Ligand (RANKL) which is in preclinical development.
Together, the two programmes target different mechanisms to treat
bone disorders such as osteoporosis. Ablynx plans to accelerate this
second bone disorder programme towards preclinical development, once
the best lead candidate Nanobody® has been selected.
"We are delighted to have reached agreement with P&G Pharmaceuticals.
It fits with our strategy to expand our in-house pipeline. Ablynx has
the resources and expertise to accelerate the programme which we
believe could offer an important new approach to osteoporosis
therapy," said Dr Edwin Moses, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
of Ablynx.
Ablynx's research collaboration with Procter & Gamble
Pharmaceuticals, which commenced in 2004, will now formally end, with
Ablynx having the rights to any assets discovered under the
agreement.
-ends-
About Ablynx [Euronext Brussels: ABLX] - http://www.ablynx.com
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 200 employees. Ablynx
completed a successful IPO on Euronext Brussels [ABLX] on 7 November
2007.
For more information, please contact:
College Hill Life Sciences - for UK/International media enquiries:
Sue Charles, Justine Lamond, John McIntyre
t: +44 (0)20 7866 7857
f: +44 (0)20 7866 7900
e: ablynx@collegehill.com
Ablynx:
Dr. Edwin Moses
Chairman and CEO
t: +32 (0)9 262 00 07
m: +44 (0)7771 954 193 / +32 (0)473 39 50 68
e: edwin.moses@ablynx.com
Eva-Lotta Allan
Chief Business Officer
t: +32 (0)9 262 00 75
m: +32 (0)475 78 36 21 / +44 (0)7990 570 900
e: eva-lotta.allan@ablynx.com
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