Boehringer Ingelheim and Yale University announce drug discovery alliance

Boehringer Ingelheim has announced a new collaboration with Yale University that will focus on the field of immune-modulation.

The partnership will leverage the joint research capabilities of both organisations to identify novel therapeutic targets that will lead to the discovery of immune-modulatory agents for oncology, autoimmune and respiratory disorders.

Boehringer Ingelheim will provide funding for a select number of projects, working closely with Yale University scientists to advance the research. The company also has an option to obtain an exclusive license for all of these programmes under pre-agreed terms.

The leader of the collaborative research will be Dr Lieping Chen, professor of immunobiology and director of cancer immunology at the Yale Cancer Center of Yale University School of Medicine.

Dr Michel Pairet, senior corporate vice-president of research and non-clinical development at Boehringer Ingelheim, said: "This collaboration will help us to identify important pathways, and what the biological application of modulating those pathways will be. We will investigate whether these new pathways could become future drug targets."

The company also recently announced a new biologics manufacturing partnership with Sanofi, which will gain access to Boehringer Ingelheim's production capabilities in Biberach an der Riss in Germany through the agreement.