Ablynx will apply its Nanobodies® class of antibody-derived therapeutic proteins toward evaluating the utility of Algeta’s Targeted Thorium Conjugate (TTC) as a potential cancer treatment.

Ablynx will allow its Nanobodies to be used by Algeta against a specific, undisclosed target as part of the research collaboration. The companies will use Algeta’s chelation and conjugation technologies to evaluate the potential of an Ablynx Nanobody to act as the targeting molecule for the Algeta alpha-pharmaceutical payload, the alpha-emitter thorium-227.

“This payload has the potential to provide higher potency and more effective delivery over other therapeutic payloads, with the further advantage that there are no known cellular resistance mechanisms to the cell killing properties of alpha particles,” Thomas Ramdahl, executive VP and CTO of Algeta, said in a statement.

Nanobodies are based on single-domain antibody fragments, and designed for use against a range of serious human diseases, including inflammation, hematology, oncology, and pulmonary disease.

The companies said they will contribute “resources” to their research collaboration, which is expected to last for up to a year initially, with an option for extension. No additional terms were disclosed.

The collaboration with Ablynx marks the fifth TTC program disclosed by Algeta. Ablynx has ongoing research collaborations and other “significant” partnerships with pharma giants that include Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck & Co., Merck KGaA, and Novartis.

Previous articleFDA Approves Novartis’ Flucelvax
Next articleXOMA Combination Drug Shows Phase III Promise