Merck Serono and Ablynx enter nanobody research partnership

Merck Serono and Ablynx are to collaborate on a new research partnership into the development of nanobodies against a key inflammatory disease target.

This new arrangement comes in addition to the companies' existing nanobody co-discovery and co-development agreement, which focuses on the fields of oncology and immunology, with Ablynx receiving an upfront payment of 10 million euros (8.7 million pounds).

It is hoped that the research can take advantage of the benefits offered by Ablynx's nanobody technology, including the molecules' small size and high stability and affinity.

Dr Bernhard Kirschbaum, executive vice-president for research and development at Merck Serono, said: "We believe that the specific features of nanobodies have the potential to address some of the challenges in treating autoimmune and inflammatory diseases in general and rheumatology in particular."

Merck Serono is currently attending the European Society for Medical Oncology in Germany, where it is presenting clinical data on key cancer drugs such as Erbitux.