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news.Belgian biopharmaceutical firm Ablynx has expanded its immuno-oncology collaboration with a subsidiary of Merck to address an increased number of immune checkpoint modulator targets.
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The initial agreement announced in February 2014 focused on the discovery and development of five pre-defined Nanobody candidates directed towards immune checkpoint modulator targets for evaluation as immunotherapies for cancer.
Ablynx CEO Dr Edwin Moses said: "This significant expansion of our collaboration with Merck after less than 18 months underlines the promise offered by our Nanobody platform in the discovery of unique new therapeutic agents.
"The speed and flexibility of the platform and its ability to develop multi-specific candidates against target combinations is a very powerful characteristic of the Nanobody technology."
As part of the expansion, Ablynx will be responsible to include up to 12 additional Nanobody programs against individual protein targets and target combinations through to the in vivo pre-clinical proof-of-concept stage, after which Merck will have the option to advance specified lead candidates.
For signing the deal expansion, Ablynx will receive a €13m upfront payment comprising exclusivity fees and FTE payments as well as further research funding over the term of the collaboration.
Additionally, Ablynx will also be eligible to receive additional exclusivity fees, depending on the number of programs for which Merck decides to exercise its licensing option, plus development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments of up to €340m per program, as well as tiered royalties on annual net sales upon commercialisation of any Nanobody products.
The deal will see Merck carry out clinical development, manufacturing and commercialization of any products resulting from the collaboration.