Boehringer Ingelheim ramps up its oncology ADC development with new tech and antigen target

Published: 10-Jan-2025

The company has licensed Lonza-owned Synaffix's ADC platform technology, while also claiming the rights to a fourth novel oncology target from an ongoing discovery partnership with Oxford BioTherapeutics

Boehringer Ingelheim has advanced its standing in the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) discovery and development space by acquiring Synaffix's ADC platform technology. 

According to the company, this acquisition will signficiantly bolster the company's ADC portfolio, which is driven by its subsidiary NBE Therapeutics. 

The clinically validated ADC platform utilises antibodies with modified native glycan anchor points, allowing the development of reliable next-generation ADC or bispecifics. 

By broadening its ADC portfolio witb Synaffix's technology, Boehringer Ingelheim will be able to address novel tumour targets to develop first-in-class cancer treatments in oncological areas with highly unmet needs. 

Synaffix will provide the company with access to its ADC technologies for multiple targets, which will make it eligible for additional milestone payments of up to USD $1.3bn.

Lamine Mbow, Global Head of Discovery Research, Boehringer Ingelheim, said: "We are building a broad pipeline of ADCs addressing the novel tumor target space to develop next-generation cancer treatments."

"By combining our deep expertise in cancer treatment development with Synaffix’s clinical-stage platform technology, we aim to accelerate the delivery of first-in-class cancer treatments to improve cancer patient outcomes.”  
 

New oncology target discovered 

As well as having access to a wider portfolio of ADCs through the deal with Synaffix, Boehringer Ingelheim has also claimed the rights to the fouth new immuno-oncology target from an ongoing discovery collaboration with Oxford BioTherapeutics. 

It was discovered through Oxford BioTherapeutics' OGAP splice variant discovery platform, which is a novel part of one of the world's largest proteomic databases that aims to integrate clinical, experimental and expression data.

Since immuno-oncology therapies are only effective in a subset of patients, targets must be consistently identified to ensure patients have access to treatments that work for their genotype.

Post-discovery, Boehringer Ingelheim will be solely reponsible for the development and commercialisation of antibody products based on this target, with Oxford BioTherapeutics being eligible for milestone payments and royalties from the deal. 

The first two programmes discovered from this arrangement are already in clinical development.

Dr. Christian Rohlff, CEO of Oxford BioTherapeutics, concluded: “We are thrilled that Boehringer Ingelheim has chosen to exercise its option to secure rights to a fourth novel oncology drug target from our proprietary OGAP® discovery platform."

"This decision further validates the potential of our discovery platform and reflects our shared commitment to pioneering advancements that bring promising targets addressing unmet medical needs in cancer treatment.”

 

 

 

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