Ablynx & Merck Serono Expand Partnership into Osteoarthritis

Ablynx and Merck Serono have entered into a third agreement to co-discover and co-develop Nanobodies against two targets in osteoarthritis.

Ablynx has expanded its relationship with Merck Serono and entered into a third agreement to co-discover and co-develop Nanobodies against two targets in osteoarthritis.

The companies will exploit the unique Nanobody features and will develop multi-specific products, which have extended half-lives.

Under the terms of the agreement, Ablynx will receive an upfront payment of €20 million payable in two tranches over the next three months and will be fully responsible for all activities and costs for each programme, excluding manufacturing costs and costs relating to certain in vivo models, up to the delivery of the pre-clinical package that will form the basis of an Investigational New Drug (IND) filing or IND equivalent filing.

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