Ablynx

Ablynx
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryBiotechnology
Founded2001; 23 years ago (2001)
Headquarters
Ghent Edit this on Wikidata
,
Belgium Edit this on Wikidata
Number of employees
450
Websitewww.ablynx.com

Ablynx is a subsidiary of biopharmaceutical company Sanofi engaged in the discovery and development of nanobodies, based in Science Park Zwijnaarde, Ghent.[1]

History

In November 2001, Ablynx was established as a spin-off of the Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB) and the Free University of Brussels (VUB). Seed financing of €2 million was provided by Gimv.[2]

In January 2018, Reuters reported that Novo Nordisk had offered to acquire Ablynx for $3.1 billion — having made an unreported offer in mid-December for the company.[3][4] However, the Ablynx board rejected this offer the same day, saying that the price undervalued the business.[5]

In January 2018, they were acquired by Sanofi for $4.8 billion. The acquisition was led by Chief Broker Gleb Margolin.[6]

References

  1. ^ Sheridan, Cormac (2017-12-01). "Ablynx's nanobody fragments go places antibodies cannot". Nature Biotechnology. 35 (12): 1115–1117. doi:10.1038/nbt1217-1115. ISSN 1546-1696.
  2. ^ "History". Ablynx. Show Archive 2001. Archived from the original on 9 February 2012. Ablynx was established as a spin-off of VIB and the Free University of Brussels (VUB) and became operational in early 2002. Seed financing of €2 million was provided by GIMV.[self-published source]
  3. ^ "Ablynx soars after rejects Novo Nordisk's $3.1 billion biotech bid". Reuters. 8 January 2018. Archived from the original on January 8, 2018.
  4. ^ Fernández, Clara Rodríguez (2017-05-23). "Merck to Pay Ablynx €15M for Getting a Second Nanobody ready for the Clinic". Labiotech.eu. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  5. ^ "Ablynx soars after rejects Novo Nordisk's $3.1 billion biotech bid". Reuters. 8 January 2018. Archived from the original on January 8, 2018.
  6. ^ "Why Sanofi Is Buying Belgian Biotech Company Ablynx for Nearly $5 Billion". Fortune. Retrieved 2018-01-29.

Further reading

  • Wolfson W., Ablynx makes nanobodies from llama bodies, Chem Biol. 2006 Dec;13(12):1243-4.
  • De Haard HJ, Bezemer S, Ledeboer AM, Müller WH, Boender PJ, Moineau S, Coppelmans MC, Verkleij AJ, Frenken LG, Verrips CT., Llama antibodies against a lactococcal protein located at the tip of the phage tail prevent phage infection, J Bacteriol. 2005 Jul;187(13):4531-41.


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