• Ablynx NV, of Ghent, Belgium, opened recruitment in its Phase II study of anti-von Willebrand factor Nanobody in acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. The study is expected to enroll more than 100 patients and will test the Nanobody as an adjunct to standard plasma exchange therapy. The primary endpoint will be the time to response, defined by the normalization of platelet count for the blood marker lactate dehydrogenase. In separate news, Ablynx said it will receive further milestone payments totaling €3 million (US$4.1 million) from Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, of Ingelheim, Germany, triggered as part of the companies alliance to develop and commercialize Nanobodies.

• Argos Therapeutics Inc., of Durham, N.C., reported interim Phase II data showing that AGS-003 plus Sutent (sunitinib, Pfizer Inc.) resulted in median progression-free survival of 14.9 months for intermediate risk and six months for poor risk renal cell carcinoma patients. Treatment was well tolerated, with no serious or grade 3/4 adverse events attributable to AGS-003. Data were presented at the Ninth International Kidney Cancer Symposium. AGS-003 is an autologous dendritic cell vaccine.

• Cytokinetics Inc., of South San Francisco, presented Phase I data showing that CK-2017357 increased skeletal muscle force in healthy volunteers. Additional preclinical data showed the drug increased the time to muscle fatigue. The data were presented at the 2010 Annual Aging Muscle Symposium. A Phase IIa trial of CK-2017357 for delaying muscle fatigue in peripheral artery disease is ongoing.