Boehringer Ingelheim and Forma Therapeutics form cancer alliance

Boehringer Ingelheim will be allying with Forma Therapeutics to conduct collaborative research into new anti-cancer therapies.

The new research and development alliance will see Forma screening for and optimising small molecule compounds against oncology-relevant protein/protein interactions over the next four years.

Under the terms of the agreement, Boehringer Ingelheim will pay Forma $65 million (41.94 million pounds) in up-front fees and initial research funding, with subsequent pre-commercial milestone payments potentially coming to $750 million.

Forma noted that many oncology targets that are thought to be "undruggable" involve protein/protein interactions, making this a potentially groundbreaking research project.

Dr Steven Tregay, chief executive officer of Forma, said: "This creative deal provides Boehringer Ingelheim with access to our drug discovery capabilities in cancer, but also offers Forma and our shareholders several opportunities to realise early return through assets developed under this collaboration."

This comes after Boehringer Ingelheim announced a new manufacturing services deal with Aveo Pharmaceuticals last month, pertaining to the cancer drug ficlatuzumab.