Ablynx, a biopharmaceutical company with headquarters in Ghent, Belgium, is engaged in the discovery and development of single-domain antibodies ('Nanobodies') to treat a range of human diseases.
Ablynx's lead programme, ALX-0081, became the first ever single domain antibody to enter clinical trials, final positive results from a Phase I study in healthy subjects were reported in December 2007. Following these results, Ablynx has initiated a Phase Ib multiple-dose study in May 2008, in the target patient population.
Single domain antibodies are antibody-derived therapeutic proteins that contain the 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). The cloned and isolated VHH domain is a stable polypeptide harbouring the full antigen-binding capacity of the original heavy-chain antibody. These form the basis of the single domain antibodies which Ablynx has named Nanobodies.
Nanobodies have a high homology with the heavy chain varaible domains of human antibodies and can be further humanised without loss of activity. They have a low immunogenic potential, which has been confirmed in primate studies with Nanobody lead compounds.
In November 2001, Ablynx was established as a spin-off of VIB and the Free University of Brussels (VUB). Seed financing of €2M was provided by GIMV.