Taisho to develop and commercialize Ablynx’s rheumatoid arthritis drug ozoralizumab in Japan

Ozoralizumab includes two nanobodies targeting TNFa, which are linked to a nanobody that binds to human serum albumin, extending the drug’s half-life and improving its distribution to inflamed joints in vivo.

The drug is a next-generation TNFa blocker that has clinical Phase II proof-of-concept in RA.

As part of the deal, Taisho will develop, register and commercialize anti-TNFa Nanobody therapeutics in Japan.

The deal will see Ablynx receive an upfront payment of $3m as well as development and commercial milestone payments.

Ablynx will also receive royalties based on annual net sales of anti-TNFa nanobody therapeutics generated in Japan.

Ablynx CEO Dr Edwin Moses said: "We continue to deliver on our partnering strategy for ozoralizumab and are very pleased that this nanobody could now become a potential new treatment option for inflammatory diseases in Japan.

"This is our first step in building a presence in Japan and we are looking forward to working together with Taisho to make this novel treatment option available to Japanese patients living with RA."

Last September, Ablynx had granted a royalty-bearing licence to Chinese pharmaceutical firm Eddingpharm, to develop and commercialize ozoralizumab in China.

Ablynx develops nanobodies, proprietary therapeutic proteins based on single-domain antibody fragments, which combine the advantages of conventional antibody drugs with some of the features of small-molecule drugs.

Image: Taisho will commercialize Ablynx’s ozoralizumab in Japan to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Photo: courtesy of Michelle Meiklejohn/ freedigitalphotos.net.