Wyeth and Ablynx extend nanobody partnership

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and Ablynx have announced an extension to their TNF-alpha partnership.

The collaboration to discover and develop novel nanobody-based therapeutics against TNF-alpha will continue under the same conditions as previously set out.

Wyeth has exclusive rights to develop and commercialise the anti-TNF-alpha nanobodies while Ablynx receives research funding and is entitled to future milestone payments and royalties subject to commercialisation.

Dr Frank Walsh, executive vice-president and head of Discovery Research at Wyeth, confirmed that the company was still excited about the potential of Ablynx’s nanobody technology as platform for new therapeutics which target TNF-alpha.

“We look forward to our ongoing collaboration with Ablynx with the goal of bringing new therapies to patients,” he added.

Ablynx’s chief executive officer and chairman Dr Edwin Moses expressed the company’s delight in extending the partnership, asserting that Wyeth had world class capabilities to develop and commercialise biologics.

Ablynx specialises in the discovery and development of nanobodies – a new class of antibody-derived therapeutic proteins.

Earlier this month, Wyeth announced that it has been recognised for its pharmaceutical and scientific achievements at the third annual Scrip Awards ceremony, where it received honours for Best Overall Pipeline and Best New Drug.