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
Money20/20 Europe Celebrates Ten Years of Industry Leadership as AI, Digital Assets and Financial Sovereignty Take Centre Stage8.6.2026 18:37:00 EEST | Press release
Money20/20, the world's leading fintech show and the place where money does business, celebrated a major milestone with its 10th Europe edition, convening more than 7,500 attendees, one in three at C-suite level, and over 2,300 companies from over 105 countries in Amsterdam, for three days of industry-defining announcements, strategic partnerships, and dealmaking that set the agenda for the future of financial services. Featuring more than 450 speakers across six stages, Money20/20 Europe welcomed leaders from banking, fintech, payments, policy, technology and digital assets to explore the forces reshaping the future of money. “This year’s show demonstrated that financial services have entered a new phase of transformation,” said Bryony Naylor, Vice President of Money20/20 Europe. “Across the show floor and on stage, we saw leaders move beyond discussing what’s next to actively building it. From AI and digital identity to financial sovereignty and digital assets, the conversations and
Liberty Latin America Selects BTS as Exclusive A2P Messaging Managed Services Partner Across All Its Markets8.6.2026 18:36:00 EEST | Press release
BTS announced today that it has been chosen as the exclusive provider of managed A2P SMS services for Liberty Latin America (LLA), supporting the company’s efforts to strengthen revenue protection, fraud mitigation, traffic intelligence, and operational visibility across its markets. The agreement reinforces LLA’s A2P messaging strategy throughout a broad regional footprint and establishes a coordinated operating model to improve control, visibility, and monetization of A2P traffic across its markets. The partnership will support revenue maximization, stronger fraud protection and grey-route mitigation, enhanced real-time traffic visibility, operational reporting and analytics, revenue assurance, and 24x7x365 managed services support. The agreement spans 25 markets and reflects a high level of operational trust in BTS’ ability to deliver consistent performance across diverse regulatory, technical, and commercial environments. “This agreement gives us a stronger and more consistent oper
The Estée Lauder Companies Strengthens UK Manufacturing Network as Whitman Facility Celebrates 60 Years of British Craftsmanship8.6.2026 18:14:00 EEST | Press release
As The Estée Lauder Companies’ (NYSE: EL) Whitman manufacturing facility celebrates its 60th anniversary, the company today announced a strategic investment that will strengthen its UK manufacturing network, further reinforcing its long-standing commitment to British craftsmanship, innovation, and growth in prestige fragrance. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260608415843/en/ From left to right: Jo Dancey, Global Brand President, Jo Malone London; Alex Gregorian, SVP, Global Manufacturing & Engineering; Roberto Canevari, Chief Value Chain Officer; Nadine Graf, President, EUKEM; Stéphane de La Faverie, President and Chief Executive Officer; William P. Lauder, Chair of the Board of Directors; Maria Genouzos, VP, EUKEM and APAC Manufacturing; Pernilla Nyberg, SVP, General Manager, UK & Ireland; Jamal Chamariq, SVP, EUKEM & TR Value Chain; and Ben Smith, Whitman Plant Manager, celebrate the 60th anniversary of The
IQM and Real Asset Acquisition Corp. Announce Effectiveness of Registration Statement for Proposed Business Combination8.6.2026 17:16:00 EEST | Press release
IQM Finland Oy, a global leader in full-stack superconducting quantum computers (“IQM”, “IQM Quantum Computers” or the “Company”), and Real Asset Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: RAAQ), a special purpose acquisition company (“RAAQ”), announced today that the registration statement on Form F-4 (the “Registration Statement”), relating to their previously announced business combination, has been declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on June 5, 2026. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260608520188/en/ IQM Radiance quantum computer The extraordinary general meeting of RAAQ’s shareholders in connection with the proposed business combination (the “Extraordinary General Meeting”) will be held on June 25, 2026. The proxy statement/prospectus relating to the Extraordinary General Meeting was mailed to RAAQ’s shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 3, 2026 (the “Record Date”)
Resident Evil Veronica to Launch in 2027!8.6.2026 16:00:00 EEST | Press release
Capcom Co., Ltd. (TOKYO:9697) today announced that Resident Evil Veronica, the latest title in the Resident Evil series, is scheduled for release in 2027. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260608994346/en/ Resident Evil Veronica key art The Resident Evil franchise features survival horror games in which players utilize a variety of weapons and other items to survive terrifying situations. Supported by a passionate global fanbase, cumulative game sales since the first title in this flagship series debuted in 1996 exceed 201 million* units. Resident Evil Veronica is a remake of the original Resident Evil Code: Veronica, released in the year 2000. While preserving the appeal of the original, Capcom is developing the 2027 release as the latest installment of the Resident Evil series, with a reimagined story and high-quality graphics made possible by the company’s proprietary RE ENGINE. The company is steadily develo
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