ALX-0171 is a Nanobody product which binds to RSV and neutralizes the virus. The Nanobody is expected to be administered via lungs and based on the in-vivo data and it has the potential to be effective both in the prevention of infection as well as in treatment once infection has occurred.
Ablynx said that ALX-0171 is its first Nanobody pre-clinical development candidate to be delivered through a route other than injection. Like many Nanobodies, ALX-0171 is very stable with a low propensity to aggregate making it suitable for inhalation. It can also be manufactured at relatively low cost in microbial systems.
Edwin Moses, chairman and CEO of Ablynx, said: “Ablynx’s anti-RSV Nanobody potentially has a clearly differentiated product profile compared with other options currently available for RSV. We expect to conveniently deliver ALX-0171 via the lungs directly to the site of potential disease to provide prophylactic protection, as well as therapeutic treatment which we don’t believe can be offered for this infectious agent by any other marketed drugs today.
“We also believe ALX-0171 will have a significantly lower cost of goods compared to other biologics currently used in this indication. We are very pleased to illustrate the power of our Nanobody product engine with this announcement of our second pre-clinical candidate nomination in 2010. Earlier this year we nominated ALX-0651, an anti-CXCR4 Nanobody for stem cell mobilization, for preclinical development.”