Boehringer Ingelheim to establish new European technical centre

Boehringer Ingelheim has unveiled plans to create a new pilot plant facility in Biberach, Germany for the production of newly developed active pharmaceutical ingredients.

The new technical centre, which is expected to cost in excess of 50 million euros (40.25 million pounds), is scheduled for completion in early 2014 and will incorporate 15 chemical reactors, each with a volume of between 100 and 300 litres.

By creating the site, the company will be able to guarantee a steady supply of new active ingredients throughout its drug development processes, thus ensuring they will be available in sufficient amounts to carry out clinical studies.

Professor Andreas Barner, chairman of the board of managing directors at Boehringer Ingelheim, said: "In order to continue offering new products in therapeutic areas with significant unmet medical needs, such as diabetes, cancer, hepatitis C, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and asthma, we need to invest now."

Earlier this week, the company announced positive data from a phase III trial of the type 2 diabetes therapy linagliptin, in association with partner Lilly.