2013-02-25 07:33:34 -
GHENT, Belgium and LONDON, United Kingdom, 25 February 2013 - Ablynx [Euronext
Brussels: ABLX] and Spirogen Ltd. announce a research collaboration to evaluate
the potential of a novel anti-cancer drug conjugate combining Spirogen's
proprietary cytotoxic drugs, pyrrolobenzodiazepines (PBD), and associated linker
technology, with Nanobodies(®) generated using Ablynx's proprietary technology
platform.
Under the terms of the collaboration, Ablynx will provide access to novel
Nanobodies against a specific, undisclosed cancer target and Spirogen will
provide access to its proprietary cytotoxic warheads (PBDs) and conjugation
technologies. Both companies will contribute their resources towards
the
collaboration, which is expected to last for up to a year initially. Following
this feasibility phase, Ablynx will have the option to either in-license
Spirogen's technology or, in collaboration with Spirogen, move development
forward with a third party. No further terms have been disclosed.
Dr Andreas Menrad, Chief Scientific Officer of Ablynx, said:
"We are very pleased to be working with Spirogen to discover and develop novel
cancer therapeutics based on both companies' proprietary technologies. Our
Nanobodies have the potential to selectively and efficiently deliver Spirogen's
PBD drugs to the site of the tumour. We are very excited about combining our
unique and powerful technology with Spirogen's novel cytotoxic agents to search
for breakthrough opportunities in oncology."
Dr Chris Martin, Chief Executive Officer of Spirogen, said:
"The collaboration with Ablynx is designed to evaluate the potential of a
Nanobody to act as the targeting molecule for the PBD warhead, which is released
once it is inside the cancer cell. These warheads have the potential to be
extremely potent without distorting the DNA helix thus avoiding mechanisms that
lead to tumours becoming resistant to other anti-cancer drugs."
For more information, please contact
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
Marieke Vermeersch
Associate Director Investor Relations
t: +32 (0)9 262 00 82
m: +32 (0)479 49 06 03
e:
marieke.vermeersch@ablynx.com
Follow us on Twitter @AblynxABLX
M:Communications:
Mary-Jane Elliott, Amber Bielecka, Claire Dickinson
t: +44 207 920 2330
e:
ablynx@mcomgroup.com
Spirogen:
Dr Chris Martin
CEO
m: +44 (0) 7788 720572
e:
chris.martin@spirogen.com
College Hill:
Sue Charles, Stefanie Bacher, Gemma Howe, Donia Al-Saffar
t: +44 (0) 20 7866 7860
e:
spirogen@collegehill.com
About Ablynx
Ablynx is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development
of Nanobodies(®), a novel class of therapeutic proteins based on single-domain
antibody fragments, for a range of serious human diseases, including
inflammation, haematology, oncology and pulmonary disease. Today, the Company
has approximately 25 programmes in the pipeline and five Nanobodies at clinical
development stage. Ablynx has ongoing research collaborations and significant
partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies including Boehringer Ingelheim,
Merck Serono, Novartis and Merck & Co. The Company is headquartered in Ghent,
Belgium. More information can be found on www.ablynx.com.
About the Ablynx Nanobody platform
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.
About Spirogen Limited
Spirogen Limited ("Spirogen") was founded in 2001 as a spin-out from several
institutions including University College, London. It is majority owned by
Celtic Therapeutics. It has developed a novel class of highly potent cytotoxic
warheads based on its proprietary pyrrolobenzodiazepines ("PBD's"), DNA
minor
groove binding agents, which bind and cross-link specific sites of DNA of the
cancer cell. This blocks the cancer cells' division without distorting its DNA
helix, thus avoiding the common phenomenon of emergent drug resistance. In
contrast, many cancer chemotherapeutics distort the structure of DNA resulting
in the ability of the cancer cells to develop resistance to further therapy.
Spirogen has been developing its PBD technology for more than ten years,
including a standalone PBD agent already in an NCI-sponsored Phase II study in
cisplatin resistant ovarian cancer. Its business model is to partner its
technology with pharma and biotech for use in the development of novel drugs. It
has a number of industry collaborations, including collaborations with Genentech
announced in 2011 and with ADC Therapeutics announced in 2012. For further
information, please visit Spirogen's website, www.spirogen.com.
About Antibody Drug Conjugates
ADCs are highly targeted drug constructs which combine monoclonal antibodies
specific to particular types of tumour cells with potent cytotoxic agents
(warheads). The antibodies bind to specific receptors (antigens) on the surface
of the target cell. Once inside the target cell the cytotoxic agent is released,
killing the cell directly. This minimizes the impact on normal, healthy tissues
and significantly reduces the side effects associated with chemotherapy
treatments. ADCs have extensive potential therapeutic applications in several
disease areas, particularly in cancer. The principle can also be applied beyond
antibodies, with the possibility of linking warheads to antibody fragments,
peptides, vitamins and hormones.
press release in pdf:
hugin.info/137912/R/1680568/549104.pdf
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originality of the information contained therein.
Source: Ablynx via Thomson Reuters ONE
[HUG#1680568]
