highperformr logo

Ablynx's Overview

Total employees135
HeadquartersGhent
Founded

Ablynx, a Sanofi company, is a biopharmaceutical company renowned for its pioneering work in the discovery and development of Nanobodies®, a novel class of proprietary therapeutic proteins based on single-domain antibody fragments. Founded in 2001 as a spin-off from VIB and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Ablynx developed a strong pipeline in areas such as immunology, hematology, and oncology. In 2018, Sanofi acquired Ablynx for €3.9 billion, integrating its innovative Nanobody® platform to enhance Sanofi's R&D capabilities in biologics. The Ghent site remains a crucial center of excellence for Nanobody® research and development within Sanofi's global network, contributing to the development of next-generation therapies for various diseases.

Where is Ablynx's Headquarters?

Ablynx officeAblynx officeAblynx officeAblynx office
*Images sourced via web search. Rights belong to original owners

HQ Function

Primary research and development hub for Sanofi's Nanobody® platform, focusing on discovery, engineering, and early development of novel antibody-based therapeutics.

Notable Features:

State-of-the-art laboratories within a major European life sciences cluster (Flanders Biobased Valley/Technologiepark Zwijnaarde), fostering collaboration and innovation.

Work Culture:

Highly scientific and innovative environment, integrated into Sanofi's global R&D culture, emphasizing teamwork, cutting-edge research, and a commitment to developing transformative medicines.

HQ Significance:

Original birthplace and global center of excellence for Nanobody® technology, a unique and versatile platform for drug development acquired by Sanofi for its strategic importance in biologics R&D.

Values Reflected in HQ: Innovation, scientific rigor, collaboration, and patient-centricity, aligned with Sanofi's core values in advancing healthcare solutions.

Location:

As an integral part of Sanofi, Ablynx's innovative Nanobody® technology and the therapeutics derived from it contribute to Sanofi's extensive global R&D pipeline and commercial portfolio. This enables the reach of these advancements to patients worldwide. Sanofi operates in over 100 countries, supporting global clinical trials, manufacturing, and commercialization of medicines, including those originating from the Ablynx platform developed in Ghent.

Street Address:

Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 21

City:

Ghent

State/Province:

East Flanders

Country:

Belgium

Ablynx's Global Presence

Ghent, East Flanders, Belgium (as part of Sanofi)

Address: Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 21, 9052 Ghent

Acts as Sanofi's center of excellence for Nanobody® research, leveraging the strong biotech ecosystem in Flanders, Belgium, to drive innovation for Sanofi's global therapeutic pipeline. No other distinct 'Ablynx-branded' office locations exist; further global operational support is integrated within Sanofi's worldwide network.

Buying Intent Signals for Ablynx

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Executive Team of Ablynx

As of April 2025, Ablynx' leadership includes:

Paul Hudson - Chief Executive Officer, Sanofi
Houman Ashrafian - Executive Vice President, Head of Research and Development, Sanofi
Bill Sibold - Executive Vice President Specialty Care, Sanofi (Relevant for commercialized products like Cablivi)

Investors of Ablynx

Ablynx has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

Sanofi (Current owner since 2018 acquisition. Previously, Ablynx was publicly traded on Euronext Brussels and NASDAQ, and venture-backed by firms including Sofinnova Partners, GIMV, and Abingworth.)

Executive New Hires/Exits in the Last 12 Months

Hire1
Exits1

Since its full integration into Sanofi, executive leadership for Ablynx's former operations is managed within Sanofi's global R&D structure. A significant recent change was the appointment of Dr. Houman Ashrafian as Sanofi's new Head of Research & Development in September 2023, who oversees all R&D activities, including those at the Ghent research site (formerly Ablynx). This followed the transition of the previous R&D head.

Departures

Dr. John Reed, Dr. John Reed transitioned from his role as Global Head of R&D at Sanofi.

New Appointments:

Dr. Houman Ashrafian, Dr. Houman Ashrafian appointed as the new Head of R&D at Sanofi.

Technology (Tech Stack) used by Ablynx

Discover the tools Ablynx uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

Ablynx Email Formats and Examples

Following its acquisition by Sanofi, employees at the former Ablynx site, now a Sanofi research center, use Sanofi's corporate email system. The most common email format for Sanofi globally is [first].[last]@sanofi.com.

[first].[last]@sanofi.com

Format

john.doe@sanofi.com

Example

85%

Success rate

News and media

Sanofi Press ReleaseDecember 7, 2023

Sanofi Highlights R&D Strategy and Pipeline Advancements, Reinforcing Commitment to Nanobody Platform

During its R&D Day, Sanofi showcased its strategic priorities and progress in its research and development pipeline. The company emphasized its commitment to leveraging innovative platforms, including Nanobody® technology originating from Ablynx, to develop differentiated medicines. Several Nanobody-derived molecules are advancing in development for immunological and other serious diseases....more

Sanofi Press ReleaseApril 25, 2024

Sanofi Q1 2024 Results Show Continued Specialty Care Growth, Including Nanobody-based Cablivi

Sanofi reported its first-quarter 2024 financial results, highlighting strong performance in its Specialty Care business. Cablivi® (caplacizumab), a Nanobody-based medicine developed by Ablynx (now part of Sanofi) for the treatment of acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (aTTP), continues to contribute to this growth, demonstrating the ongoing value of the Nanobody platform....more

Highperformr’s free tools for company research

Explore Employees by Region or Country

See where a company’s workforce is located, by country or region.

View Funding Details

View past and recent funding rounds with amounts and investors.

Understand Revenue Insights

Understand company revenue estimates and financial scale.

Track Active Job Openings

Track active roles and hiring trends to spot growth signals.

Review Product and Offerings

Discover what a company offers—products, platforms, and solutions.

Get SIC or NAICS Codes

Get the company’s official SIC and NAICS classifications.

Analyze Website Traffic Trends

Analyze visitor volume, engagement, and top traffic sources.

Discover Social Profiles and Engagement

Explore LinkedIn, Twitter, and other active social profiles.

Identify Top Competitors

Identify top competitors based on similar business traits.

Research and Discover Companies with Highperformr — Smarter, Faster

Explore companies in depth — from the tech they use to recent funding, hiring trends, and buyer signals — all in one powerful view.

Highperformr AI helps you surface the right accounts and enrich your CRM with verified company and contact insights, so your teams can prioritize and engage faster.

  • Track intent signals to find buyers who are actively in-market
  • Enrich contacts and companies instantly, no need to switch tools
  • Automate workflows to stay ahead of every change
  • Connect your CRM & tools for seamless data sync and activation

Thousands of companies, including Ablynx, are just a search away.