Ablynx.com / The Hamers patent portfolio

Three-dimensional structure of a Nanobody^®(modeled on the VHH with pdb-code 1U0Q, Cambillau et al). The target molecule is recognized by the surface formed by three hypervariable regions located at the top of the molecule (in green, cyan and blue). Hallmarks, amino acid residues that further differentiate a camelid VHH from a human VH, can be located at different positions within the framework regions, and here are coloured red, pink and magenta.

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Intellectual property

The Hamers Patent Portfolio

Ablynx holds the exclusive rights to the Hamers patent portfolio from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and the Flemish Institute of Biotechnology (VIB) for all therapeutic and diagnostic applications of Nanobodies^®.

The Hamers patents cover the basic structure, composition, preparation and uses of both heavy chain antibodies and Nanobodies^®, irrespective of the species from which they are derived (see for example US 5,840,526; US 5,874,541; US 6,005,079 and US 6.765,087). The Hamers patents also cover humanised Nanobodies^® (see for example EP 1 589 107), as well as multivalent and/or multispecific constructs comprising two or more Nanobodies^® (see for example WO 97/34103) and methods for making the same. In addition, the Hamers patent cover methods and techniques for generating Nanobodies^® against any desired target (see for example US 5,800,988; US 5,874, 541 and US 6,015,695).

Ablynx’s exclusive healthcare rights also include the patent family of WO97/49805, which describes Nanobodies^® with an extended CDR3 loop that are capable of interacting with the active site or cleft of target molecules such as enzymes or viruses.