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
Empire State Building Observation Deck Run-Up Returns for 48 th Annual Race on Oct. 68.7.2026 01:22:00 EEST | Press release
The Empire State Building Observation Deck (ESB), atop the “World’s Most Famous Building,” today announced that general lottery registration is open for this year's Empire State Building Observation Deck Run-Up (ESBRU), which will run through July 20, 2026. The annual race, presented by NYU Langone Health and powered by Merrell, will take place on Oct. 6, 2026, at 8 p.m. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260707902561/en/ Empire State Building Observation Deck Run-Up Returns for 48th Annual Race on Oct. 6 This year’s race marks the 48th anniversary of the event, in which 225 runners will race up 1,576 stairs of the iconic New York City landmark to reach the world-famous 86th Floor Observation Deck. “Every year, the Empire State Building Observation Deck Run-Up is a remarkable feat for all who participate as they race up to Tripadvisor's #1 top attraction in the U.S.,” said Tony Malkin, chairman and CEO of the Emp
Modon's Hudayriyat Golf Estates Sets UAE Record With More Than AED 13 Billion in Sales Within Days of Launch7.7.2026 21:36:00 EEST | Press release
Modon has set a new benchmark for the UAE real estate market with the launch of Hudayriyat Golf Estates on Hudayriyat Island, Abu Dhabi. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260707126559/en/ Modon's Hudayriyat Golf Estates sets UAE record with more than AED 13 billion in sales within days of launch (Photo: AETOSWire) Within days of launch, the community achieved record-breaking sales exceeding AED 13 billion, marking the highest publicly recorded sales value for a single residential project launch in the UAE. Comprising an exclusive collection of golf mansions, villas, and townhouses, the development saw 1,700 of its residences sold after few days of launch. The response from buyers and investors reflects confidence in Abu Dhabi’s real estate market and Modon’s development vision, while reinforcing Hudayriyat Island’s position as a premier lifestyle destination. Designed around privacy, wellbeing and premium living
Loomis Sayles Growth Equity Strategies Team Celebrates Twenty-Year Milestones7.7.2026 17:36:00 EEST | Press release
Loomis, Sayles & Company, the century-old investment manager with nearly $418 billion in assets under management, proudly celebrates the 20-year anniversaries of the Loomis Sayles Large Cap Growth and the Loomis Sayles All Cap Growth strategies, as well as a differentiated approach to growth equity investing under the leadership of Aziz V. Hamzaogullari, CFA, the founder, chief investment officer and portfolio manager of the Loomis Sayles Growth Equity Strategies (GES) Team. Aziz is also an executive vice president and a member of the firm’s Board of Directors. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260707992418/en/ Celebrating 20 Years of The Power of Active Management Done Right GES is a cohesive team with 20 years of alpha generation and a long-term, private equity approach to investing. Under Aziz Hamzaogullari’s leadership since 2010, assets under management for GES have grown from $1.9 billion to $98.2 billion
Integral Ad Science Appoints Lidiane Jones Chief Executive Officer7.7.2026 16:35:00 EEST | Press release
Integral Ad Science (IAS), one of the world's most trusted media quality companies, today announced the appointment of Lidiane Jones as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Jones succeeds Lisa Utzschneider, who led IAS for more than seven years and will remain with the company as Special Advisor to the Board through the end of 2026 to support a seamless transition. Utzschneider will also serve as a Special Advisor to Novacap and their portfolio companies. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260707780892/en/ Lidiane Jones: Integral Ad Science CEO, Photo Credit: Pamela Hanson The appointment reflects IAS's long-term strategic vision for the future of digital advertising. As AI transforms how media is planned, bought, measured, and optimized, advertisers increasingly need trusted intelligence to make real-time decisions. Jones's deep expertise across product, technology, and AI uniquely positions IAS to bu
Andersen Global Adds Collaborating Firm Abcoo Law Firm7.7.2026 16:30:00 EEST | Press release
Andersen Global strengthens its presence in Türkiye with collaborating firm Abcoo Law Firm, enhancing the organization’s existing platform in the country with the addition of legal capabilities. Founded in 2014, Abcoo advises local and international clients across a broad range of legal services, with experience in corporate and M&A, real estate and construction, dispute resolution, employment, compliance, banking and finance, competition and intellectual property law. The firm is consistently recognized as a top tier and leading firm by international publications, including The Legal 500. Abcoo supports organizations across a wide range of industries, including real estate and construction, retail, textile, cosmetics, automotive, logistics, chemicals, IT, energy, healthcare, manufacturing and financial services, providing strategic legal guidance and commercially focused solutions. “Our focus has always been on understanding each client’s objectives and providing practical, commercial
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