Boehringer Ingelheim to Acquire Labor Dr. Merk & Kollegen to Strengthen its Next Generation Cancer Immunology Program
9.12.2020 12:00:00 EET | Business Wire | Press release
Boehringer Ingelheim today announced the execution of the agreement on the acquisition of Labor Dr. Merk & Kollegen. The acquisition will enable Boehringer Ingelheim to further expand and accelerate its comprehensive program for the development of ATMP-based immuno-oncology therapies including the Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) with modified glycoprotein (GP) platform and cancer vaccines platforms. Labor Dr. Merk & Kollegen has outstanding experience in process development, manufacturing and analytical characterization in virology besides expertise in microbiology and cell culture. Labor Dr. Merk & Kollegen has already worked in close collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim on viral-based therapy development since 2015.
“The acquisition of Labor Dr. Merk & Kollegen is strengthening our promising pipeline with diverse potential first-in-class cancer immunology and cancer cell directed therapies for patients with hard-to-treat cancer,” said Dr. Michel Pairet, member of Boehringer Ingelheim’s Board of Managing Directors with responsibility for the company’s Innovation Unit. “The trusting and highly effective collaboration between our scientists and the Labor Dr. Merk & Kollegen team has already contributed significantly to our progress in viral-based cancer therapies. We will welcome the Labor Dr. Merk & Kollegen team and look forward to jointly advancing our program in this area.”
Boehringer Ingelheim is taking cancer on by strengthening its position in cancer immunology, with a focus on cancer vaccines, oncolytic viruses, T-cell engagers, stromal modulators and myeloid cell modulators by combining its world-class, in-house research and development with that of highly innovative external companies. The addition of Labor Dr. Merk & Kollegen’s site will enable Boehringer Ingelheim to further strengthen its oncolytic virus and cancer vaccine development capabilities and capacities by establishing an end-to-end fully integrated center of excellence for virus development and clinical manufacturing. It will add to a series of strategic acquisitions and collaborations over the past years, including the acquisition of ViraTherapeutics and AMAL Therapeutics, which are contributing assets that will be further developed at Labor Dr. Merk & Kollegen’s site.
Labor Dr. Merk & Kollegen is a privately-held company founded in 1971. It is headquartered in Ochsenhausen, Germany, close to Boehringer Ingelheim’s Biberach R&D site. As a center of excellence in virology, Labor Dr. Merk & Kollegen has a long track record in GLP and GMP certified biosafety testing. In recent years Labor Dr. Merk & Kollegen established its GMP-virus manufacturing facility. With around 130 highly qualified and specialized employees, the company has built considerable expertise in process development, manufacturing and analytical characterization of viral therapeutics and oncolytic viral therapeutics. Labor Dr. Merk & Kollegen will be integrated with all employees as a new unit into Boehringer Ingelheim’s Development organization and continue to operate at its Ochsenhausen site. A future expansion is planned.
“Following our successful strategic partnership, we are really excited to join forces with Boehringer Ingelheim,” said Dr. Ingrid Rapp, CEO at Labor Dr. Merk & Kollegen. “Boehringer Ingelheim is a truly global pharmaceutical company with excellent R&D capacities. We look forward to taking our next development step in oncology as part of this outstanding team.”
The companies did not disclose the financial terms of the deal. The transaction is subject to the approval of the competition authorities in Germany. Closing will follow thereafter.
Please click on the following link for ‘Notes to Editors’:
http://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/press-release/agreement-acquire-labor-dr-merk
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/20201209005383/en/
Contact information
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
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
BanyanGlobal Family Business Advisors Named Family Business Advisory Practice of the Year at the STEP Private Client Awards for the Fourth Time14.10.2026 16:05:00 EEST | Press release
BanyanGlobal Family Business Advisors ("Banyan") has been named Family Business Advisory Practice of the Year at the 21st annual STEP Private Client Awards, one of the most respected international honors in the private client profession. It is the fourth time Banyan has won the category, following wins in 2018, 2020 and 2021. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261013883351/en/ Kelly Greig, STEP Board Member and Dennis Jaffe, BanyanGlobal Family Business Advisors at the awards ceremony. BanyanGlobal won the Family Business Advisory Practice of the Year at the 21st Annual STEP Private Client Awards. The independent judging panel singled out Banyan's approach: "BanyanGlobal Family Business Advisors has redefined family business advisory by combining governance with helping families build skills and confidence for long-term ownership. Its innovative approach and long-standing client relationships helped make it the s
Telekom Srbija Group Expands AI Investment and Strengthens U.S. Technology Partnerships14.10.2026 16:02:00 EEST | Press release
Following the October 1 agreement between Serbia and the United States to strengthen cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), Telekom Srbija Group is expanding its AI investment and deepening relationships with leading U.S. technology companies as part of its strategy to develop the next generation digital services. As part of these efforts, Telekom Srbija Group has engaged with the U.S. State Department, Department of Commerce and Export-Import Bank to explore opportunities for technology cooperation and project financing, with the ambition of becoming a preferred regional partner for U.S. companies. “Artificial intelligence represents one of the greatest opportunities for the future of telecommunications and digital services,” said Vladimir Lučić, CEO of Telekom Srbija Group. “We have been investing in this technology for several years, and our focus is now on accelerating its practical application. By combining AI innovation with our expanding 5G infrastructure and international
Wolters Kluwer names Alberto de Benito Aznar General Manager of Audit & Assurance14.10.2026 16:00:00 EEST | Press release
Wolters Kluwer, a global leader in professional information, software solutions and services, today announced the appointment of Alberto de Benito Aznar as General Manager of its Audit & Assurance business, part of the Corporate Performance & ESG division. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261014786222/en/ De Benito Aznar returns to a business and market he knows well. He began his Wolters Kluwer career more than 10 years ago in Corporate Strategy and subsequently led operations for Audit & Assurance before serving most recently as General Manager of Corporate Tax. “Alberto brings a strong combination of strategic, operational and commercial leadership to Audit & Assurance,” said Maria Montenegro, CEO of Corporate Performance & ESG at Wolters Kluwer. “His leadership of Corporate Tax, combined with his previous experience in Audit & Assurance, gives him a valuable perspective as we build on TeamMate’s strong posi
Lenovo Uncovers What Happens When Entrepreneurs Look Beyond Borders for Support14.10.2026 16:00:00 EEST | Press release
Today, Lenovo debuts the first episode of its new documentary series from Backing Every Business, its global initiative designed to connect small businesses with the people, technology and support they need to grow and thrive. The series features five businesses participating in Twinning, Lenovo’sprogram that brings small business founders from around the world together, connecting them through mentorship across shared growth goals, access to resources including technology, AI training, funding designed to help address real business challenges and turn new ideas into action. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261014736241/en/ The four-part series follows entrepreneurs from Japan, Mexico, the U.K. and the U.S. as they step inside one another’s businesses, experience unfamiliar industries and cultures and share the knowledge they have gained from building their own businesses. A meeting between strangers evolves in
Airship Achieves ISO 42001 Certification, Clearing the Path for Responsible Enterprise AI14.10.2026 16:00:00 EEST | Press release
Airship, the mobile-first customer experience company, today announced it has achieved ISO 42001 certification, the global benchmark for Artificial Intelligence Management Systems (AIMS). Certified following an independent audit by A-LIGN, Airship is among the first in the CX industry to earn this standard across its platform. This certification provides enterprise brands with an independently verified foundation to scale AI-driven customer journeys—eliminating procurement hurdles while supporting compliance, data privacy, and EU AI Act readiness. Solving the Enterprise AI Paradox Enterprise product and marketing leaders face mounting pressure to innovate with AI, yet fears of data leaks, hallucinations, and regulatory non-compliance continue to stall adoption. Airship’s ISO 42001 certification addresses those concerns: an independent auditor confirmed that Airship governs its AI capabilities through a documented, tested, and continually improving management system. According to Forres
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