Belgian biopharmaceutical company Ablynx has announced positive results from a Phase 1 of its ALX-0171 inhaled Nanobody for the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections. According to the company, the study demonstrated the safety and tolerability of ALX-0171 delivered by nebulizer.
The double-blind, randomized trial tested six dose levels ranging from 2.1 mg to 210 mg were tested in healthy male subjects who experienced no adverse events or significant changes in lung function.
Ablynx is developing a number of therapies based on its Nanobody technology. Nanobodies, the company says, “are antibody-derived therapeutic proteins that contain the unique structural and functional properties of naturally-occurring heavy-chain antibodies.”
Ablynx Chairman and CEO Edwin Moses commented, “We are very excited about the outcome of this study as we believe it is the first time that an antibody-derived drug, which is delivered through inhalation, has completed a Phase 1 trial, with no treatment-emergent immunogenicity being observed. This is a major safety breakthrough in the search for potential new treatment options for patients with RSV infections, and furthermore supports the potential pulmonary delivery of Nanobodies in a range of lung-based diseases as well as offering another route for systemic administration. We are looking forward to continuing the development of this novel programme and are excited by the recent findings of a causal link between RSV infections and asthma which may considerably increase the potential clinical need for the treatment of RSV infections with ALX-0171.”
Read the Ablynx press release.
