Boehringer Ingelheim has announced its acquisition of Nerio Therapeutics for up to $1.3bn, marking a significant boost to the German drugmaker’s immuno-oncology pipeline.
The deal gives Boehringer access to the US-based drug discovery and development company’s small molecules designed to inhibit the protein tyrosine phosphatases N1 and N2 (PTPN1 and PTPN2).
PTPN1/2 act as immune checkpoints, and inhibiting them can activate the body’s immune system to fight cancer cells.
Boehringer said it hopes to develop the preclinical programme as a potential “key centrepiece component” of its immuno-oncology portfolio, adding that the inhibitors could be used as both single agents and in combination with its own cancer therapies.
Paola Casarosa, member of the board of managing directors at Boehringer, said gaining the rights to Nerio’s inhibitors “creates a broad panel of exciting new cancer treatment combination opportunities”.
“This brings us a major step closer to our vision of transforming the lives of people living with cancer,” Casarosa added.
Also commenting on the agreement, Nerio’s co-founder and chief executive officer, Sanford Madigan, said: “We believe Nerio’s small molecule PTPN1/N2 inhibitors have superior drug-like properties and provide a first-in-class opportunity.
“We are excited to expand Boehringer Ingelheim’s pipeline and commend [its] commitment to unlock the full potential of our compounds and their mechanistically unique approach to fighting cancer.”
The acquisition comes just over a week after Boehringer and artificial intelligence (AI) specialist Brainomix entered into a partnership aimed at improving the care of patients with fibrosing lung disease in the US.
The project is set to focus on the opportunity for AI imaging analysis using Brainomix 360 e-Lung on routine CT scans to accelerate diagnosis and improve access to treatment.
Boehringer also agreed a second partnership with 3T Biosciences in January to develop next-generation cancer immunotherapies, building on the “successful completion” of the companies’ initial oncology research partnership.
The announcement came just one day after Boehringer said it had partnered with China-based Suzhou Ribo Life Science and its Swedish unit, Ribocure Pharmaceuticals, to develop new treatments for liver diseases.