Ablynx Provides an R&D Update and Announces Recent Technology Advances

GHENT, Belgium, 19 October, 2009 - Ablynx [Euronext Brussels: ABLX], announces that it will present an update of its therapeutic pipeline and its recent advances with its Nanobody® technology platform at Ablynx's R&D Update in Ghent today. The Company will also illustrate the specific advantages of the Nanobody® platform compared with some directly competing technologies.

Ablynx now has over 20 programmes in its therapeutic pipeline including three Nanobodies® in clinical trials. Ablynx initiated its first Phase II study at the beginning of September for its lead programme ALX-0081. Also in September, Ablynx's partner Wyeth Pharmaceuticals initiated a Phase II study with an anti-TNF-alpha Nanobody® to combat inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Nanobodies® have been generated against over 150 different targets including several complex targets such as chemokines, GPCRs and viruses, which are typically extremely difficult to approach with conventional monoclonal antibodies.

"In the last 12 months we have made important progress in delivering Nanobodies® through alternative routes of administration. We will now be able to apply these delivery routes within our therapeutic programmes. We continue to illustrate the differentiating advantages of our technology over those of our competitors. We are delighted with the progress of our clinical programme and anticipate there will be four Nanobodies® in the clinic by the end of this year, two in Phase II and two in Phase I", said Dr Edwin Moses, CEO and Chairman of Ablynx.

The R&D Review Day presentation will be available on the Company's website as of 4:00 pm CET [10:00 am EST] today -http://www.ablynx.com/investorrelations/eventsandpresentations.php .

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About Ablynx [Euronext Brussels: ABLX] - http://www.ablynx.com

Founded in 2001 in Ghent, Belgium, Ablynx is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of Nanobodies®, a novel class of therapeutic proteins based on single-domain antibody fragments, for a range of serious and life-threatening human diseases. The Company currently has over 220 employees. Ablynx completed a successful IPO on Euronext Brussels [ABLX] on 7 November 2007.

Ablynx is developing a portfolio of Nanobody®-based therapeutics in a number of major disease areas, including inflammation, thrombosis, oncology and Alzheimer's disease. Nanobodies® have been generated against more than 150 different disease targets. Efficacy data have been obtained in over 26 in vivo models for Nanobodies® against a range of different targets.

Ablynx has an extensive patent position in the field of Nanobodies® for healthcare applications. It has exclusive and worldwide rights to more than 50 families of granted patents and pending patent applications, including the Hamers patents covering the basic structure, composition, preparation and uses of Nanobodies®.

Ablynx has ongoing research collaborations and significant partnerships with several major pharmaceutical companies, including Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck Serono, Novartis and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. Ablynx is building a diverse and broad portfolio of therapeutic Nanobodies® through these collaborations as well as through its own internal discovery programmes.

The Company's lead programme, ALX-0081, an intravenously administered novel anti-thrombotic has entered Phase II in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). ALX-0681, a subcutaneous formulation of the novel anti-thrombotic Nanobodies® that also selectively targets von Willebrand factor (vWF) has concluded Phase I. Ablynx has progressed ALX-0141, an anti-RANKL Nanobody® for bone disorders into preclinical development and aims to initiate a Phase I study before the end of 2009. ALX-0061, an anti IL6R Nanobody® is in preclinical development for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. In addition, in December 2008, Ablynx's partner Wyeth Pharmaceuticals entered a Phase I study with an anti-TNF-alpha Nanobody® and a Phase II study was initiated in September 2009.

Nanobody® is a registered trademark of Ablynx NV.

For more information, please contact:

Ablynx:
Dr Edwin Moses
Chairman and CEO
t: +32 (0)9 262 00 07
m: +44 (0)7771 954 193 / +32 (0)473 39 50 68
e: edwin.moses@ablynx.com
 
Eva-Lotta Allan
Chief Business Officer
t: +32 (0)9 262 00 75
m: +32 (0)475 78 36 21 / +44 (0)7990 570 900
e: eva-lotta.allan@ablynx.com

College Hill Life Sciences - for UK/International media enquiries:
Sue Charles, Justine Lamond, Dr. John McIntyre
t: +44 (0)20 7866 7857
f: +44 (0)20 7866 7900
e: ablynx@collegehill.com

Certain statements, beliefs and opinions in this press release are forward-looking, which reflect the Company's or, as appropriate, the Company's directors' current expectations and projections about future events. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. A multitude of factors including, but not limited to, changes in demand, competition and technology, can cause actual events, performance or results to differ significantly from any anticipated development. Forward looking statements contained in this press release regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. As a result, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any update or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this press release as a result of any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based. Neither the Company nor its advisers or representatives nor any of its or their parent or subsidiary undertakings or any such person's officers or employees guarantees that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does either accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or the actual occurrence of the forecasted developments. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.