Polyphor signs MacroFinder collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim

Polyphor, a Swiss research-driven pharmaceutical company, has agreed with Boehringer Ingelheim to use its MacroFinder drug discovery technology to identify and optimise novel macrocyclic drug candidates addressing therapeutic targets selected by Boehringer Ingelheim.

Polyphor will receive from Boehringer Ingelheim an up-front payment, research funding and milestone payments as candidate molecules progress through the drug discovery process, preclinical and clinical development and onto the market.

Polyphor is also eligible to receive undisclosed royalties on sales of any approved products.

As part of the deal, Polyphor will apply its MacroFinder technology to challenging therapeutic targets that would otherwise be difficult to address with classical small molecule drug discovery approaches. These difficult targets will include protein-protein interactions.

The objective is to identify novel MacroFinder drug candidates and to optimise their efficacy in vivo. Boehringer Ingelheim will then be solely responsible for subsequent development and commercialisation of the identified drug candidates.

Jean-Pierre Obrecht, ceo of Polyphor, said: ‘I take pride in this agreement, which is testament to a trustful business relationship of more than 10 years. Boehringer Ingelheim has an excellent reputation in the industry and the conclusion of this agreement therefore constitutes both a scientific and commercial validation of the MacroFinder platform.’