Boehringer Ingelheim forms alliance with ETH Zurich

Boehringer Ingelheim has agreed a new four-year diabetes and obesity partnership with the Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich.

The four-year industry-academia collaboration will focus on investigating three cell types that may contribute to the onset of these diseases because of their dominant role in metabolic homoeostasis.

Moreover, the partners will aim to discover novel biomarkers and diagnostic tools that may contribute to better monitoring and planning of therapeutic interventions for diabetes and obesity.

Projects range from investigations of the function of surface proteins and signalling pathways of neuroendocrine cells in the pancreatic islets and the intestine, to new studies into brown fat tissue development.

Professor Wolfgang Rettig, corporate senior vice-president for research at Boehringer Ingelheim, said: "This collaboration will provide new insights into the pathophysiology of diabetes and obesity and will further bolster our efforts to find innovative medicines for the treatment of these prevalent diseases."

This comes after the company announced a new manufacturing deal with Servier and Xoma regarding a non-infectious uveitis compound last month.