Boehringer Ingelheim and MD Anderson Expand Collaboration to Accelerate Development of KRAS and TRAILR2 Compounds in Lung Cancer
Boehringer Ingelheim and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center today announced the extension and expansion of their joint Virtual Research and Development Center (VRDC) to explore new molecules from Boehringer Ingelheim’s KRAS (Kirsten rat sarcoma) and TRAILR2 (TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand receptor 2) portfolios for the potential treatment of lung cancer, particularly non-small cell lung cancer.
The collaboration, launched in 2019, has successfully combined MD Anderson’s innovative clinical research infrastructure and the patient-driven drug development capabilities of the Therapeutics Discovery division with Boehringer Ingelheim’s pipeline of innovative cancer medicines and expertise in advancing breakthrough therapies. Under the new agreement, joint research will continue for five additional years.
“Our collaboration with MD Anderson strengthens our determination to find solutions for the most difficult-to-treat cancers, and this latest commitment marks an important step forward, especially in our holistic KRAS program,” said Norbert Kraut, Ph.D., Head of Global Cancer Research at Boehringer Ingelheim. “We are delighted to extend our collaboration with MD Anderson. With our shared dedication to patients and like-minded approach to innovation, we have the potential to bring the medicines to lung and gastrointestinal cancer patients that they so much need.”
The flexible nature of the VRDC agreement allows the teams to expand their lung cancer indication programs targeting KRAS and TRAILR2, including Boehringer Ingelheim’s first-in-class SOS1::pan-KRAS inhibitor (BI 1701963), inhibitors of KRAS G12C (BI 1823911) and MEK (BI 3011441), as well as a novel undisclosed bi-specific TRAILR2 agonist.
The collaboration already has resulted in a number of joint publications, conference presentations (including at the 2021 AACR Annual Meeting) and clinical trial activities. Boehringer Ingelheim is pursuing a comprehensive mutant KRAS-directed effort with multiple programs expected to enter the VRDC with MD Anderson.
“We are proud to expand our work with Boehringer Ingelheim in a very exciting drug-development space – advancing novel targeted therapies against KRAS and TRAILR2,” said Timothy Heffernan, Ph.D., Head of Oncology Research in Therapeutics Discovery at MD Anderson. “Our collaboration is built upon a strong working relationship and complementary expertise, highlighting how an academic center and a pharmaceutical company can strategically work together to advance innovative therapies for patients with cancer.”
MD Anderson’s Therapeutics Discovery division is anchored by an experienced team of drug development experts working to advance the next generation of cancer therapies. The Translational Research to Advance Therapeutics and Innovation in Oncology (TRACTION) platform, led by Heffernan, performs cutting-edge translational research to rapidly advance new therapies to the patients most likely to benefit.
KRAS is the most frequently mutated cancer-causing oncogene. One in seven of all human metastatic cancers expresses KRAS mutations, with mutation rates of more than 30 percent in lung adenocarcinomas, more than 40 percent in colorectal cancers and more than 90 percent in pancreatic cancers. No approved treatments for KRAS-driven cancers exist currently, further underscoring the need for continued investment in research and development. Tumor cell-selective activation of TRAILR2 can trigger cancer cell death in indications of high medical need, including lung and gastrointestinal malignancies.
Intended Audiences
This press release is issued from our corporate headquarters in Ingelheim, Germany and is intended to provide information about our global business. Please be aware that information relating to the approval status and labels of approved products may vary from country to country, and a country-specific press release on this topic may have been issued in the countries where we do business.
Disclosures
MD Anderson has an institutional financial conflict of interest with Boehringer Ingelheim related to this research and has therefore implemented an Institutional Conflict of Interest Management and Monitoring Plan.
Please click on the following link for ‘Notes to Editors’ and ‘References’:
http://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/press-release/expanded-collaboration-md-anderson
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210414005484/en/
Contact information
Media Contacts
Sarah Soetbeer
Boehringer Ingelheim Corporate Center GmbH
Communications + Public Affairs
P: +49 (6132) 77-183874
press@boehringer-ingelheim.com
Linda Ruckel
Senior Associate Director, Media and Corporate Reputation
Boehringer Ingelheim U.S.
Media + PR
P: +1 203-791-6672
press@boehringer-ingelheim.com
Clayton Boldt, Ph.D.
Public Relations
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
P: +1 713-792-9518
crboldt@mdanderson.org
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Transition Industries and Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Sign Agreement for the Purchase and Sale of Ultra-Low Carbon Methanol6.11.2025 06:00:00 EET | Press release
Transition Industries LLC, a developer of world-scale, net-zero carbon emissions methanol and hydrogen projects, signed a long-term methanol sales and purchase agreement with Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc. (MGC) for the offtake of ultra-low carbon methanol. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251105695992/en/ Masahiko Naito, Division Director of Mitsubishi Gas Chemical and Rommel Gallo, CEO of Transition Industries sign agreement in Tokyo, November 6, 2025 Under the Agreement, which will become effective upon the Project’s Final Investment Decision (FID), Transition Industries will supply MGC approximately 1 million MT per annum of ultra-low carbon methanol from its Pacifico Mexinol project, a 6,130 MT per day methanol production facility near Topolobampo, Sinaloa, Mexico, expected to be in operation in 2029. Transition Industries is jointly developing Pacifico Mexinol with the International Finance Corpora
Kinaxis Announces Normal Course Issuer Bid6.11.2025 00:00:00 EET | Press release
Kinaxis® Inc. (“Kinaxis” or the “Company”) (TSX: KXS) is pleased to announce that the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”) has accepted a notice (the “Notice”) filed by the Company of its intention to make a normal course issuer bid (the “NCIB”). In connection with the NCIB, the Company has entered into an automatic share purchase plan (an “ASPP”) with its designated broker to allow for purchases of its common shares (the “Shares”). The Notice provides that the Company may, during the 12-month period commencing November 12, 2025 and ending November 11, 2026, or on such earlier date as Kinaxis completes its purchases or provides notice of termination, purchase up to 1,403,042 Shares in total, representing approximately 5% of the issued and outstanding Shares as at October 31, 2025. As of the close of business on October 31, 2025, the Company had 28,060,844 Shares issued and outstanding. Except for block purchases permitted under the rules of the TSX, the number of Shares to be purchased p
Hyper ® Wins Dual CES 2026 Innovation Awards ® for its Breakthrough Tech Accessories5.11.2025 23:50:00 EET | Press release
Hyper®, a leader in mobile tech accessories for creators and power users, today announced it has been honored with two CES2026 Innovation Awards® in the Consumer Peripherals and Accessories category. These awards reflect Hyper’s mission to build breakthrough solutions that help users create, connect, and go beyond the limits of their devices. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251105297377/en/ CES Innovation Awards® 2026 Honorees: HyperSpace™ Trackpad Pro and HyperDrive® Next redefine haptics, personalization, and next-gen USB4 V2 speed. The CES Innovation Awards program is an annual competition that honors the most innovative, new products in consumer technology, recognizing top innovations across multiple categories. “For 20 years, Hyper has led the tech accessory space with industry-defining ‘world’s firsts’ in power, connectivity, mobility, and desktop solutions,” said Gabi Iorio, Director of Global Marketing
CWAN Reports 800+ AI Agents Now Available for Deployment Across $10 Trillion in Client Assets5.11.2025 23:15:00 EET | Press release
Clearwater Analytics (NYSE: CWAN), the most comprehensive technology platform for investment management, today announced the global deployment of CWAN GenAI, a newly-launched, embedded generative AI platform that can be deployed to transform investment management, risk management, reporting and operations across more than $10 trillion in institutional assets. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251105092732/en/ What sets CWAN GenAI apart from the experimental AI tools flooding the market is its production-ready integration. Unlike copilots or chat tools layered onto legacy systems, CWAN GenAI is fully integrated and deployed into production on CWAN’s front-to-back platform, enabling clients to work alongside AI as collaborative partners in their investment operations. The platform currently supports 800+ AI agents created by CWAN clients and internal teams, plus 20 highly trained domain-specific agents. These agen
IonQ and Swiss Consortium Launch First Citywide Dedicated Quantum Network in Geneva5.11.2025 23:04:00 EET | Press release
IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), the world’s leading quantum company, with luminary Swiss partners, successfully deployed a citywide quantum network in Geneva, Switzerland. This consortium of world-class academic, enterprise, and public institutions will advance quantum cybersecurity and communications research, collaboration, and innovation. The new infrastructure, named the Geneva Quantum Network (GQN), is the nation’s first dedicated quantum network connecting key institutions across the region. “Our involvement in the GQN alongside globally-renowned companies such as Rolex and research leaders like CERN, underscores our IP and pioneering leadership in quantum cybersecurity and communication,” said Niccolo de Masi, Chairman and CEO of IonQ. “IonQ is leveraging existing fiber optic infrastructure to link partners across the Geneva region. Our partnership with leading universities, government, and industry players in Geneva is enabling real-world quantum communications, accelerating research, and b
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom