Boehringer Ingelheim and MD Anderson Expand Collaboration to Accelerate Development of KRAS and TRAILR2 Compounds in Lung Cancer
14.4.2021 16:00:00 EEST | Business Wire | Press release
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
Gencom Acquires Rosewood London, Expanding Its Footprint With Its First Luxury Hotel Acquisition in Europe3.11.2026 20:05:00 EET | Press release
Gencom, a U.S.-based investment firm that owns and develops prized real estate around the world, announces the acquisition of Rosewood London, the landmark 308-key luxury hotel situated at 252 High Holborn in Central London. The acquisition strengthens Gencom’s global hospitality investment platform and expands its presence in Europe through its first luxury hotel asset in London. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261103137897/en/ Gencom, a U.S.-based investment firm that owns and develops prized real estate around the world, announces the acquisition of Rosewood London in Central London London is one of the world’s most supply-constrained hospitality markets, supported by year-round demand from both leisure and business travelers. The acquisition of Rosewood London reflects Gencom’s conviction in the market and serves as a strategic entry point into Europe. The transaction further enhances the firm’s assemblage
SGCA Honours Communication Excellence Across Asia, Europe and the Arab World3.11.2026 17:52:00 EET | Press release
His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, honoured winners of the 13th Sharjah Government Communication Award (SGCA), organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB). This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261103972039/en/ SGCA honours communication excellence across Asia, Europe and the Arab world (Photo: AETOSWire) Winners represented China, India, Thailand, Ukraine and the Arab world. Some 433 entries from 31 countries across four continents passed initial screening. The award covered 23 categories across five sectors, including six partner awards. His Excellency Tariq Saeed Allay, Director General of SGMB, highlighted the award’s growth under the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, noting that it had attracted more than 9,500 entries over five year
BioLife to Showcase Oral Peptide Delivery Technology During London Life Sciences Week3.11.2026 17:03:00 EET | Press release
BioLife Products Limited today announced its participation in London Life Sciences Week, where it will highlight its patented oral peptide delivery technology and recent advances in its intellectual property portfolio. BioLife will present at the LSX Investival Showcase on Monday, November 16, 2026, from 3:15 to 3:30 p.m. GMT, at Old Billingsgate, London. The presentation will be led by Former US Ambassador James P. Cain, Strategic Advisor to the Chairman & Founder, alongside Ludivine Delattre, Business and Corporate Relations, and will highlight the scientific journey behind the technology and its potential applications. BioLife is focused on developing a novel approach to delivering peptide therapeutics orally. Built on over 35 years of pharmaceutical effervescence expertise and two decades of oral peptide research by founder and inventor Dr. Farid Bennis, the technology uses a dissolvable effervescent tablet to create a buffered solution that helps protect peptides during gastrointe
Sceye and SoftBank Corp. Sign Agreement for Fleet of Stratospheric Platforms Targeting Nationwide Coverage in Japan3.11.2026 17:00:00 EET | Press release
Sceye, a U.S. aerospace and material science company building High Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS) for stratospheric infrastructure, today announced a five-year Master Services Agreement (MSA) with SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO:9434, “SoftBank”) to manufacture, launch, and operate a fleet of Sceye’s HAPS over Japan with the aim of achieving nationwide coverage. This agreement advances the companies’ partnership from flight demonstrations toward full-scale stratospheric infrastructure. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261103391128/en/ Sceye and SoftBank Corp. Sign Agreement for Fleet of Stratospheric Platforms Targeting Nationwide Coverage in Japan Sceye’s HAPS will form a key pillar of SoftBank’s strategy for a Ubiquitous Network. The majority of Sceye’s initial fleet will provide mobile broadband throughout Japan, while a subset will also establish a Free Space Optical (FSO) network in the stratosphere. These deploym
SharkNinja Brings Its All-Star Neighbors and Fans Home for the Holidays3.11.2026 17:00:00 EET | Press release
SharkNinja, Inc. (NYSE: SN), a global product design and technology company, today unveiled the final spot in its first-ever SharkNinja holiday campaign, starring global brand ambassadors David Beckham, Tom Brady, Kevin Hart, and Aryna Sabalenka. The campaign, “There’s No Home Like a SharkNinja Home,” puts the ambassadors’ own fandom and love of Shark and Ninja products at the center of a holiday house-sitting assignment that gets a little out of hand and invites fans along for the fun. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261103325477/en/ David Beckham, Tom Brady, Kevin Hart, and Aryna Sabalenka celebrate a shared love and fandom of Shark and Ninja products in SharkNinja’s first-ever holiday campaign, “There’s No Home Like a SharkNinja Home” Created by SharkNinja’s in-house Creative Labs team and produced by Studio 99, the holiday campaign builds on SharkNinja’s Neighbors series, which debuted in 2025 with Beckham
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