Ablynx

Last updated
Ablynx
Industry Biotechnology
Founded2001  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Headquarters
Ghent   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
,
Belgium  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Number of employees
450
Website www.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]

Contents

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]

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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.
  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.
  6. "Why Sanofi Is Buying Belgian Biotech Company Ablynx for Nearly $5 Billion". Fortune. Retrieved 2018-01-29.

Further reading