Boehringer Ingelheim and Aveo agree ficlatuzumab manufacturing deal

Boehringer Ingelheim has agreed to provide large-scale process development and clinical manufacturing services to Aveo Pharmaceuticals for the production of its new drug ficlatuzumab.

Under the terms of the agreement, Boehringer Ingelheim will be producing ficlatuzumab at its biopharmaceutical site in Fremont, as Aveo continues the phase II clinical development of the product.

Ficlatuzumab is a promising new HGF inhibitory antibody for non-small cell lung cancer, the developmental and commercialisation rights to which will remain with Aveo under this alliance.

Frank Ternes, senior vice-president of the biopharmaceutical contract manufacturing unit at Boehringer Ingelheim, said this new agreement is a validation of the company's decision to expand its presence in the US.

"We look forward to leveraging our more than 25 years expertise in this area to support Aveo in further executing its clinical development strategies for ficlatuzumab," he added.

In September 2011, Boehringer Ingelheim announced plans to expand its business further through the creation of a dedicated biosimilar research division.