ABLYNX AND GENENCOR FORM ONCOLOGY COLLABORATION.Ablynx, Ghent, Belgium, a pioneer in the discovery and development of Nanobodies, a new class of therapeutic antibodies, has entered into an oncology oncology /on·col·o·gy/ (ong-kol´ah-je) the sum of knowledge regarding tumors; the study of tumors. on·col·o·gy n. drug discovery collaboration with Genencor International. Through this agreement, Ablynx will use its unique and patent protected Nanobody platform to discover and develop new drug candidates against tumor tumor: see neoplasm. targets specified by Genencor. Nanobodies are a novel class of therapeutics therapeutics Treatment and care to combat disease or alleviate pain or injury. Its tools include drugs, surgery, radiation therapy, mechanical devices, diet, and psychiatry. that combine the advantages of conventional antibodies with key features of small-molecule drugs. As the smallest functional fragment of naturally occurring single-domain antibodies, Nanobodies can address therapeutic targets that are not easily recognized by conventional antibodies, including active sites of enzymes and receptors. Additionally, Nanobodies can be produced cost-effectively at large-scale, have a long shelf-life, and can be administered through non-injectable means, including orally. Since commencing operations in 2002, Ablynx has initiated three pre-clinical development Pre-clinical development is a stage in the development of a new drug that begins before clinical trials (testing in humans) can begin, and during which important safety and pharmacology data is collected. programs in the areas of inflammation and thrombosis thrombosis (thrŏmbō`sĭs), obstruction of an artery or vein by a blood clot (thrombus). Arterial thrombosis is generally more serious because the supply of oxygen and nutrition to an area of the body is halted. and several discovery programs in the areas of oncology and CNS See Continuous net settlement. CNS See continuous net settlement (CNS). . Under the terms of the partnership, Ablynx will receive research funding Research funding is a term generally covering any funding for scientific research, in the areas of both "hard" science and technology and social science. The term often connotes funding obtained through a competitive process, in which potential research projects are evaluated and and license fees in addition to milestone payments, and royalties upon commercialization. Ablynx will be responsible for discovering Nanobodies that meet a pre-defined profile. Genencor will assume responsibility for the pre-clinical and clinical development of lead Nanobodies, as well as the commercialization of any resulting drug products. Through this collaboration, Genencor will develop Ablynx's Nanobodies in several drug formats including ADEPT (Antibody Directed Enzyme Prodrug prodrug /pro·drug/ (-drug) a compound that, on administration, must undergo chemical conversion by metabolic processes before becoming an active pharmacological agent; a precursor of a drug. Therapy). This joint effort follows the recent publication of a study conducted by Ablynx's founding scientists and collaborators at the Free University of Brussels The Free University of Brussels may refer to one of two Belgian universities, both located in Brussels, Belgium:
"Genencor's well-documented leadership in protein engineering and in the development of targeted cancer therapeutics makes them an ideal partner for Ablynx in this field," stated Dr. Mark Vaeck, Ablynx's CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. . "This agreement complements our own in-house oncology efforts and, in combination with our recently signed partnership with Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals, expands our partnered Nanobody discovery and development programs." "We recognize Ablynx as a leader in the emerging area of single-domain antibodies; their unique Nanobody platform enables the efficient identification of antibodies with properties necessary for Genencor's oncology drug development programs," stated Mark Goldsmith, M.D., Ph.D. senior vice president of Health Care at Genencor. "The combination of Ablynx's innovative approach to antibody discovery and Genencor's expertise in cancer therapeutics is an excellent foundation on which to build a productive partnership." About Ablynx Ablynx is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of Nanobodies, a novel class of therapeutic antibodies, for a range of serious human diseases. Because of their small size, unique structure and unparalleled stability, Nanobodies combine the advantages of conventional antibodies with key features of small-molecule drugs. Ablynx has an unrivaled patent portfolio in the field of single domain antibodies with granted composition of matter claims both in the USA and Europe. Headquartered in Ghent, Belgium, Ablynx has raised over $40 million from a strong investor consortium including Abingworth Management (UK), Alta Partners (USA), Gilde Investment Management (The Netherlands), GIMV (Belgium) and Sofinnova Partners (France). About Genencor Genencor International, Inc. is a diversified biotechnology company that develops and delivers innovative products and services into the health care, agri-processing, industrial and consumer markets. Using an integrated set of technology platforms, Genencor's products deliver innovative and sustainable solutions to improve the quality of life. Genencor traces its history to 1982 and has grown to become a leading biotechnology company, with over $380 million in year 2003 annual revenues. Genencor has principal offices in Palo Alto, California “Palo Alto” redirects here. For other uses, see Palo Alto (disambiguation). Palo Alto (IPA: /ˌpæloʊˈʔæltoʊ/, from Spanish: palo: "stick" and alto: "high", i.e. ; Rochester, New York This article is about the city of Rochester in Monroe County. For the town in Ulster County, see Rochester, Ulster County, New York. Rochester, once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City or ; and Leiden, the Netherlands. For more information, visit http://www.genencor.com. |
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