Boehringer Ingelheim and Enara Bio Enter Strategic Collaboration and Licensing Agreement to Discover Novel Shared Antigens for Cancer Immunotherapies
12.1.2021 12:00:00 EET | Business Wire | Press release
Boehringer Ingelheim and Enara Bio, today announced that they have entered into a strategic collaboration and licensing agreement to research and develop novel targeted cancer immunotherapies, leveraging Enara Bio’s Dark Antigen™ discovery platform. This new collaboration combines Boehringer Ingelheim’s approach to tackle cancer through pairing leading science with innovative immune-oncology platforms, such as oncolytic viruses and cancer vaccines, with Enara Bio’s expertise in cancer antigen identification. The aim is to provide potential new therapies for patients with difficult to treat lung and gastrointestinal cancers.
“We are excited to partner with Enara Bio as part of our mission to bring transformative new treatments to cancer patients,” said Jonathon Sedgwick, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Global Head, Cancer Immunology & Immune Modulation Research, Boehringer Ingelheim. “We are advancing a unique pipeline of cancer cell-directed agents, immuno-oncology therapies and intelligent combination approaches to help combat cancer. Enara Bio’s unique discovery platform offers a novel and highly differentiated approach that will allow us to look beyond the known proteome to identify and characterize Dark Antigens to support the development of T-Cell Receptor (TCR)-directed immunotherapies and therapeutic vaccines. We believe this is a highly innovative and promising approach to the development of the next wave of cancer immunotherapies.”
Enara Bio’s proprietary Dark Antigen Platform Technology (EDAPT™) will be used to discover and validate novel Dark Antigens in up to three tumor types in the lung and gastrointestinal cancer space. The discovery of shared antigens could lead to the development of vaccines that can be readily utilized to help a broader group of cancer patients.
Dark Antigens represent a new class of cancer-associated antigens that derive from the genomic dark matter, or the portion of the human genome that is normally not expressed as protein. Dark Antigen-encoding sequences are usually silenced in healthy cells but are activated and presented on tumor cells. They are associated with specific cancer types and, importantly, are shared across patients. Since typically not visible to the immune system, they represent a large potential repertoire of novel antigens that can be developed as targets for new immunotherapies.
“We are extremely pleased to enter this strategic licensing agreement, our first major deal leveraging our pioneering Dark Antigen discovery and validation capabilities,” said Kevin Pojasek, President and CEO of Enara Bio. “Boehringer Ingelheim is an innovation-led company dedicated to producing breakthrough treatments with a significant focus on cancer. We are excited to build this relationship and are encouraged that Boehringer Ingelheim shares our view of the potential of Dark Antigens to be a source of important and unconventional targets for novel cancer immunotherapies. This agreement provides strong validation for our science and our approach to exploiting the cancer-associated antigenic repertoire derived from genomic dark matter and we look forward to a productive collaboration.”
This collaboration with Enara Bio is the latest of several strategic partnerships and acquisitions for Boehringer Ingelheim to build its cancer vaccine platform and provides important validation for Enara Bio’s Dark Antigen platform. The past acquisitions of ViraTherapeutics and AMAL Therapeutics’ vaccine modalities coupled with Enara Bio’s capabilities position Boehringer Ingelheim to develop sophisticated virus and vaccine modalities for its prime/boost vaccine platform.
Under the agreement, Boehringer Ingelheim has the option to license Dark Antigens discovered and validated by Enara Bio. Boehringer Ingelheim will also be responsible for all non-clinical and clinical development, as well as commercialization of associated cancer immunotherapies, including therapeutic vaccines and T-cell redirecting biologics. Enara Bio retains rights to use any discovered antigens for use in cell therapy-based products.
Enara Bio is eligible to receive an upfront payment, together with research/preclinical milestones and licensing fees for each tumor type that is explored. Enara Bio is also eligible to receive more than EUR 876 million in clinical, regulatory and commercial milestones, in addition to royalties on future product sales.
Please click on the following link for ‘Notes to Editors’:
http://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/press-release/strategic-collaboration-enarabio
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/20210112005444/en/
Contact information
Media Contacts
Boehringer Ingelheim
Dr. Reinhard Malin
Head of Communications Innovation Unit
Boehringer Ingelheim Corporate Center GmbH
Media + PR
P: 49 6132 77-90815
press@boehringer-ingelheim.com
Linda Ruckel
Senior Associate Director, Media and Corporate Reputation
Boehringer Ingelheim U.S.
Media + PR
P: 203-791-6672
press@boehringer-ingelheim.com
Enara Bio
Enara Bio Limited
Kevin Pojasek, CEO
P: +44(0)1865 504 994
info@enarabio.com
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Mark Swallow, Frazer Hall, Nathaniel Dahan
P: +44 (0)20 7638 9571
enarabio@citigatedewerogerson.com
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
Umios and Wah Kong Complete Strategic Pet Food Joint Venture in Southeast Asia; Japan Corporate Advisory Institute Advised on the Transaction1.10.2026 03:00:00 EEST | Press release
Umios Corporation (TOKYO Prime: 1333; formerly Maruha Nichiro) and Wah Kong Corporation have completed the establishment of a strategic joint venture centered on Pet World International Sdn. Bhd. (“PWI”), one of Malaysia’s leading pet food companies. Under the transaction, Umios invested approximately JPY 11.4 billion to acquire a 51% interest in PWI through a newly established holding company. PWI holds the No. 2 share of Malaysia’s pet food market — No. 1 among local companies (NielsenIQ) — and operates the country’s only BRC-certified pet food plant. The company has approximately 350 employees, sells through more than 10,000 physical stores and its own e-commerce channels, and posted consolidated sales of approximately JPY 12.4 billion in the year ended September 2025. The joint venture combines Umios’s strengths in wet pet food with PWI’s dry-food capabilities, creating comprehensive coverage across dogs and cats, wet and dry. The partnership is expected to integrate the parties’ s
INNIO Completes Acquisition of Enerflex APAC Aftermarket Operations1.10.2026 00:02:00 EEST | Press release
INNIO N.V. (Nasdaq: INIO) today announced the completion of its acquisition of Enerflex Ltd.’s aftermarket business operations in Australia, Thailand, and Indonesia. The transaction strengthens INNIO’s presence in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region and expands its ability to serve customers through enhanced local service capabilities and greater customer proximity. The acquired business operates principally across three countries and eight locations and brings extensive workshop and office facilities, a highly experienced workforce, and a strong installed base supported by long-term service agreements with major oil and gas companies in the region. Through the transaction, INNIO further strengthens its ability to deliver responsive, high-quality service and lifecycle support to customers throughout APAC. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Textron Aviation Builds Future Workforce With Kansas’ First Aviation Youth Apprenticeship Program.30.9.2026 21:55:00 EEST | Press release
Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, is further bolstering the company’s efforts to build the next generation workforce as the first aviation company in Kansas to offer state-registered youth apprenticeships through the Kansas Office of Apprenticeships. The program expands career opportunities for high school students beginning at age 16 by providing paid, hands-on learning experiences that develop industry knowledge and career-ready skills while they complete their education. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260930818829/en/ Textron Aviation builds future workforce with Kansas’ first aviation youth apprenticeship program (Photo Credit: Textron Aviation). Textron Aviation is launching three state-registered youth apprenticeship programs to include: Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) in collaboration with WSU Tech in Wichita, Kansas Avionics in collaboration with WSU Tech in Wichita, Kansas Engine
Thales and Landis+Gyr Enable Smarter, Remotely Managed Connectivity for Smart Meter Fleets30.9.2026 21:00:00 EEST | Press release
As utilities modernize their infrastructure, smart meters are becoming an increasingly important part of the connected energy ecosystem. Landis+Gyr serves more than 2,000 utilities worldwide and has more than 180 million connected intelligent devices in the field. In North America alone, the installed base of smart electricity meters is expected to grow from 152.4 million in 2024 to 180.9 million by 2030, according to Berg Insight. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260930715193/en/ This is where the latest generation of Thales eSIM technology is supporting the increasing need for cellular IoT. Compliant with the GSMA's SGP.32 specification, it enables remotely managing connectivity on IoT devices, allowing network profiles to be provisioned, changed or managed over the air. By reducing reliance on physical SIM replacement and supporting interoperability across the IoT ecosystem, it provides a foundation for more
135 Global Thought Leaders, Decision-Makers and Experts to Speak at World Green Economy Summit 202630.9.2026 18:45:00 EEST | Press release
Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO) will organise the 12th World Green Economy Summit (WGES) on 21-22 October 2026 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260930106199/en/ World Green Economy Summit 2025 (Photo: AETOSWire) Held under the theme ‘From Success to Scale: Showcasing the Green Economy’, the summit will host 135 speakers, including ministers, business leaders, government officials, decision-makers, experts and innovators from around the world. They will exchange insights and expertise while highlighting successful initiatives and models that can be scaled up to accelerate the transition to a green economy. “The World Green Economy Summit brings together gl
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