BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM ENTERS GLOBAL LICENSING AGREEMENT TO DEVELOP AND COMMERCIALIZE INNOVATIVE ANTIBODIES FROM A*STAR FOR TARGETED CANCER THERAPIES
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
Most Delivered Light-Entry Jet Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 With Garmin Autothrottles Enters Into Service, Bringing Greater Control and Precision to Pilots14.1.2026 21:30:00 EET | Press release
The Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 with Garmin Autothrottles recently entered into service. Certified by the Federal Aviation Administration in October 2025, the integration of Garmin’s Autothrottle system in the Citation M2 Gen2 further supports the most delivered light-entry jet’s capabilities by bringing greater control and precision to pilots. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260114646844/en/ Most delivered light-entry jet Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 with Garmin Autothrottles enters into service, bringing greater control and precision to pilots (Photo Credit: Textron Aviation). The Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 is designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company. “We continue to invest in our products to provide customers with the best aviation experience in the world," said Lannie O’Bannion, senior vice president, Sales & Marketing. “The M2 Gen2 leads its segment as the most delivered
TwentyTwo Real Estate and Farallon Capital Complete €761 Million Investment in Isemia, a €1.2bn Healthcare Real Estate Company Created With emeis14.1.2026 19:30:00 EET | Press release
TwentyTwo Real Estate, an independent European real estate investment and management firm, announces the completion, alongside Farallon Capital, of a €761 million investment that led to the creation of Isemia (www.isemiabyemeis.com), a leading healthcare real estate company holding a €1.2 billion portfolio of assets operated by emeis. The transaction represents a significant milestone in TwentyTwo Real Estate’s long-term investment strategy focused on healthcare and operational living real estate. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260114262830/en/ Fachklinik Schömberg Isemia comprises 68 high-quality assets across France, Germany and Spain, with a balanced mix of nursing homes (48%) and clinics (52%). The portfolio benefits from strong fundamentals and resilient operating performance. All properties will continue to be operated by emeis under long-term lease agreements, ensuring continuity of care for residents
AI’s Water Demand to Surge Nearly 130% by 2050 – New Research Shows How to Build a Water-Secure AI Economy14.1.2026 17:00:00 EET | Press release
The rapid global expansion of artificial intelligence is set to drive a 129% increase in water demand across the AI value chain by 2050, according to new research by Xylem (NYSE: XYL) and Global Water Intelligence (GWI). Watering the New Economy: Managing the Impacts of the AI Revolution provides the most comprehensive assessment to date of how AI is reshaping global water use. It also highlights practical ways to meet that demand while strengthening water security for communities. Spending on AI is forecast to approach $2 trillion in 2026,1 accelerating infrastructure build-out worldwide. By the middle of the century, this expansion is projected to add 30 trillion liters of water demand, annually, fueled by a surge in power generation (~54% of the increase), semiconductor fabrication (~42%), and data center expansion (~4%). Crucially, the report finds that this additional demand does not have to result in competition between industry and communities. Today, global water systems proces
Primient to Acquire Full Ownership of Primient Covation, LLC14.1.2026 17:00:00 EET | Press release
Primient, a global leader in biomanufacturing, announced today it has agreed to purchase the remaining ownership interest in Primient Covation, LLC (“Primient Covation”), establishing Primient as the sole owner of the company and marking an exciting new chapter in Primient’s growth in the bioeconomy. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260114344080/en/ This acquisition is the next step of Primient’s strategy to strengthen Primient’s leadership position in biomanufacturing and builds upon recent announcements, including Primient’s partnership with Sustainea and the creation of the iPROOF venture. Primient Covation stands as a leading force in the U.S. biomanufacturing sector, distinguished by its broad range of biomanufacturing and fermentation expertise. The company was founded in 2000 to supply a variety of end markets, including cosmetics and personal care, textiles, fashion, coatings, functional fluids, and oth
ACCELQ Crowned Leader and Customer Favorite in The Forrester Wave™ for Autonomous Testing Platforms14.1.2026 17:00:00 EET | Press release
Forrester has named ACCELQ a Leader in The Forrester Wave™: Autonomous Testing Platforms, Q4 2025. This marks the third consecutive Wave in which ACCELQ has been recognized as a Leader. Notably, this evaluation placed strong emphasis on generative AI innovation and real-world customer adoption. ACCELQ received the highest scores for both capabilities and vision and was the only platform to be recognized as a Customer Favorite, earning a "double halo" for exceptional customer endorsement. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260113112861/en/ ACCELQ recognized as a Leader and Customer Favorite in The Forrester Wave™️: Autonomous Testing Platforms, Q4 2025, validating its agentic, GenAI-embedded testing vision. According to the Forrester report, ACCELQ received the highest score among all evaluated vendors in the Current Offering category. Analysts praised the platform’s "impressive vision and innovation," specificall
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