Date: 2017-03-30
Type of information: Development agreement
Compound: anti IL-17 A/F Nanobody®
Company: Merck KGaA (Germany) Avilion (UK)
Therapeutic area: Inflammatory diseases
Type agreement: development
Action mechanism: 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. Anti IL-17 A/F Nanobody® is an investigational bi-specific half-life extended nanobody that is thought to neutralise both IL-17A and IL-17F with the potential to treat inflammatory diseases. Merck KGaA acquired full, exclusive rights to anti IL-17 A/F Nanobody® through a global development and commercialization license from Ablynx in 2013.
Disease:
Details: • On March 30, 2017, Merck KGaA announced a development agreement with Avillion, a UK-based company focused on increasing R&D output through innovative models, for anti IL-17 A/F Nanobody®. This investigational therapy has completed Phase I development, and is expected to begin Phase II in plaque psoriasis in 2017. Avillion, will be responsible for developing anti IL-17 A/F Nanobody® from Phase II through Phase III. Avillion will also finance the clinical program through to regulatory submission. The agreement reflects Merck’s strategy to identify collaborations that progress highly promising clinical stage assets through novel innovation models. Both Merck KGaA and Avillion agreed to not disclose the terms of the deal.
Financial terms:
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