Boehringer Ingelheim launches accelerated drug development programme

Boehringer Ingelheim has announced the launch of a new programme for accelerated drug product supply, leveraging its automated high throughput technologies.

The new Lean-to-Clinic scheme is able to deliver drug substances at competitive prices at a rapid rate, allying the company's BI-HEX high expression system with a streamlined development approach.

Designed for the production of monoclonal antibodies, it is a one-stop-shop service that can deliver drug substances for toxicological and clinical studies after only 13 months, while drug products for clinical studies can be produced within 16 months.

Simon Sturge, corporate senior vice-president for biopharmaceuticals at Boehringer Ingelheim, said this can help to accelerate cell line and phase I process development, as well as preclinical and clinical supplies from mammalian cell cultures.

"Lean-to-Clinic is another milestone of our winning offers strategy to secure technology leadership, flexibility and customer orientation," he added.

This comes after the company announced a new agreement to provide process development and clinical manufacturing services to Aveo Pharmaceuticals for the drug ficlatuzumab last month.