BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM ENTERS GLOBAL LICENSING AGREEMENT TO DEVELOP AND COMMERCIALIZE INNOVATIVE ANTIBODIES FROM A*STAR FOR TARGETED CANCER THERAPIES
2.6.2022 16:10:00 EEST | Business Wire | Press release
Boehringer Ingelheim and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) today announced a global licensing agreement under which Boehringer Ingelheim will obtain exclusive worldwide rights to research, develop and commercialize products based on a panel of innovative, tumor-specific antibodies from A*STAR. Boehringer Ingelheim aims to use these antibodies to direct therapeutic effector mechanisms such as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and T-cell engagers exclusively to tumor cells, and to that end develop a range of highly targeted cancer treatments.
“Boehringer Ingelheim believes that these promising antibodies in-licensed from A*STAR will help us advance potent therapeutic candidates against key molecular cancer targets,” says Clive R. Wood, Senior Corporate Vice President and Global Head of Discovery Research at Boehringer Ingelheim and continues: “We look forward to developing these assets for a broad range of cancers with the goal to deliver breakthrough opportunities for patients.”
Boehringer Ingelheim is pioneering a range of versatile therapeutic platforms in order to develop innovative medicines that target the tumor directly (tumor cell-directed therapies) or that enable the immune system to target the tumor (immune cell-targeted therapies). One tumor cell-directed modality is antibody drug conjugates, which allows for delivery of toxins directly into tumor cells. Another is T-cell engagers facilitating direct contact between T-cells and tumor cells, leading to T-cell-mediated killing of the tumor. Both technologies are directed towards markers on the surface of cancer cells, also known as antigens, in order to attack tumor cells but spare healthy tissues.
The innovative antibodies from A*STAR can potentially enable the development of safer, more efficacious therapies as they selectively bind to antigens that are highly expressed on tumor cells but are absent on normal healthy tissues.
Under the terms of the agreement, Boehringer Ingelheim will be responsible for further research, preclinical and clinical development as well as commercialization of targeted cancer therapies using the antibodies from A*STAR. A*STAR may receive payments totalling >100 million EUR in upfront and success-based development and commercialization milestones.
The technology used to identify the unique A*STAR antibodies resulted from a multi-institutional collaboration in Singapore. A*STAR’s Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) and Institute of Bioengineering & Bioimaging (IBB) generated antibodies which exclusively target antigens that were initially identified from gastric cancer cells. Experimental Drug Development Centre (EDDC), Singapore’s national platform for drug discovery and development hosted by A*STAR, then optimized the antibodies and confirmed their applicability to a range of other solid cancers. EDDC also demonstrated the utility of these antibodies in directing different therapeutic modalities selectively to cancer cells.
Professor Damian O'Connell, Chief Executive Officer of EDDC, says, “As Singapore's national drug discovery and development platform, EDDC is proud to translate great science in Singapore into valuable assets that can enable the precise treatment of cancer. We believe that Boehringer Ingelheim, with its broad expertise and technologies, is the right partner to maximize the potential of these antibodies for the development of safer, more targeted therapies for cancer patients.”
Professor Tan Sze Wee, Assistant Chief Executive (Enterprise) of A*STAR, says, “These antibodies were developed in Singapore through close collaboration across multiple institutions. There was also strong support by the Singapore Gastric Cancer Consortium. The agreement is testament to the best-in-class research taking place in Singapore. Cancer is a devastating disease, and we hope the fruits of our research can improve patient outcomes.”
Please click on the link for “Note to Editors’ and ‘References’:
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/20220602005475/en/
Contact information
For media queries and clarifications:
Dr. Reinhard Malin
Innovation Unit Communications
Corporate Affairs
Boehringer Ingelheim
Tel: +49 6132 77-90815
Email: reinhard.malin@boehringeringelheim.com
Owen Sia
Assistant Head, Corporate Communications
Agency for Science, Technology and Research
Tel: +65 6517 7866
Email: owen_sia@hq.a-star.edu.sg
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
The Estée Lauder Companies Unveils Mastering Skin Longevity, a Breakthrough Scientific Innovation Platform Advancing the Next Era of Skin Science6.11.2026 16:00:00 EET | Press release
At the China International Import Expo (CIIE), The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE: EL) today unveiled Mastering Skin Longevity, a breakthrough scientific innovation platform designed to advance the next era of skin science and transformative product innovation. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261106776704/en/ The Estée Lauder Companies' Skin Longevity Clock serves as the visual representation for the Mastering Skin Longevity scientific innovation platform. Moving beyond the study of individual Hallmarks of Aging, the platform focuses further upstream on the Master Regulators of Skin Longevity. These interconnected biological pathways and proteins influence multiple hallmarks at once. By deepening understanding of these systems and how they help support skin’s ability to repair, adapt and regenerate, Mastering Skin Longevity will guide the Company’s discovery across ingredients, technologies, formulations an
IntouchCX Recognized for Operations led AI and End to End CX Transformation by HFS Research6.11.2026 16:00:00 EET | Press release
IntouchCX a global leader in AI-powered customer experience (CX) management, trust and safety, digital engagement, and back-office operations, has been positioned in the Horizon 2 end-to-end experience transformation, in the HFS Horizons Customer Experience Services 2026 report for its operations led approach to AI adoption and its model connecting advisory with delivery, from strategy through frontline executions. HFS Research evaluates customer experience service providers based on their capabilities, innovation, and potential to deliver value. The 2026 report examines how providers are helping businesses adopt AI, improve customer experiences and strengthen operations. “AI transformation delivers the greatest value when strategy, technology, and operations work together,” said Brent Stevenson, Chief Experience Officer at IntouchCX. “Our approach and expertise goes beyond technology. We identify business challenges and build the right solutions by connecting the dots between data, wo
Experian Named a Leader in 2026 IDC MarketScape for Worldwide Decision Intelligence Platforms6.11.2026 16:00:00 EET | Press release
Experian today announced it has been named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Decision Intelligence Platforms 2026 Vendor Assessment (Doc #US54118426, September 2026), which evaluates providers helping organizations design, engineer and orchestrate increasingly complex decisions. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261106302874/en/ IDC MarketScape positions Experian as a Leader in its 2026 vendor assessment of worldwide decision intelligence platform providers. “As organizations embed AI into more consequential decisions, the combination of trusted data, advanced analytics and strong governance becomes increasingly important,” said Keith Little, President of Experian Software Solutions. “Experian brings those capabilities together with decisioning, fraud and identity to help organizations make better decisions with greater speed and confidence.” The Experian Ascend Platform provides a unified analytics and
Midas Atlantic Partners, in Partnership With the Najafi Companies, Has Entered Into a Put Option Agreement With Sylvamo Relating to the Potential Acquisition of Its European Operations6.11.2026 13:04:00 EET | Press release
Midas Atlantic Partners (“Midas Atlantic”), in partnership with The Najafi Companies, has signed a put option agreement with Sylvamo Corporation (“Sylvamo”) relating to the potential acquisition of its European operations (the “Business”). The transaction comprises Sylvamo’s uncoated freesheet paper mills in Saillat and Nymölla, as well as its forestry and supporting business operations across Europe. Closing is expected in the first quarter of 2027, once the required consultation processes are completed and regulatory approvals are obtained. The Business is a leading European producer of uncoated woodfree (UWF) paper for office and commercial printing. Its product portfolio spans cut-size office paper, sold under its own brands such as REY and Multicopy as well as on behalf of major OEM and office supplies customers, and paper reels for commercial printers and converters. Headquartered in Belgium, with two large-scale, vertically integrated pulp and paper mills, it serves a longstandi
Suzano Reports 36% Increase in Third Quarter Net Revenue Following Consolidation of Arbex6.11.2026 01:23:00 EET | Press release
Suzano (B3: SUZB3 / NYSE: SUZ) , the world’s largest pulp producer, announces its results for the third quarter of 2026 (3Q26), which for the first time include Arbex, the joint venture between Suzano and Kimberly-Clark established in July this year. Driven primarily by the consolidation of Arbex’s contribution, Suzano reported net revenue of BRL16.5 billion, an increase of 36% on the same period last year and a new quarterly record in the company’s 102-year history. Adjusted EBITDA totaled R$5.7 billion in 3Q26, up 9% on the same basis of comparison. Operating cash generation reached R$3.8 billion, an increase of 12%. Net income totaled R$2.1 billion. As announced following the completion of the transaction with Kimberly-Clark, Suzano holds a 51% equity interest in Arbex and will therefore fully consolidate the joint venture’s financial statements from this quarter onwards.1 “This quarter marks the beginning of a new phase for Suzano. With Arbex, we are now a broader business, both ge
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