GERMANY — Boehringer Ingelheim and 3T Biosciences have formed a strategic partnership and licensing agreement to develop next-generation cancer immunotherapies.
Cancer immunotherapy uses the immune system to attack tumor cells that have certain markers. These markers can be unique to tumors and include mutated genes, viral proteins, and overexpressed tissue-specific antigens.
This approach helps the immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells.
The collaboration will combine 3T Biosciences’ 3T-T Cell Receptor Antigen and Cross-Reactivity Engine (TRACE) discovery platform with Boehringer Ingelheim’s research strategy that targets both cancer cells and immune cells.
3T Biosciences’ platform uses machine-learning algorithms and diverse target libraries to identify and validate T-cell receptor (TCR) targets and specificities.
This leads to the creation of safer, tumor-specific therapies that can be administered at higher doses.
Under the agreement, Boehringer Ingelheim will provide patient-derived TCR data to support 3T Biosciences in its target discovery efforts.
3T Biosciences will receive an upfront payment and research and development support, as well as up to US$268 million in discovery, regulatory, preclinical, clinical, and commercial milestones, and royalties on future sales of Boehringer Ingelheim products.
Boehringer Ingelheim will receive royalties on future sales of 3T Biosciences products.
Lamine Mbow, Boehringer Ingelheim Cancer Immunology + Immune Modulation global head, said the partnership will accelerate the development of T-cell-based therapies for cancer patients.
The partnership between Boehringer Ingelheim and 3T Biosciences is significant as current immunotherapies have only been effective for a small proportion of cancer patients.
3T Biosciences’ platform aims to address this challenge by identifying new T-cell receptor (TCR) targets that promote effective immune responses and thoroughly screening TCRs and TCR mimetics for specificity and off-target cross-reactivities.
The platform combines high-diversity target libraries with active machine learning to identify the most common and immunogenic targets in solid tumors, potentially leading to tumor-specific and safer therapies that can be administered at higher doses.
In other news, Boehringer Ingelheim has partnered with Ibnsina Pharma to distribute their treatments in Egypt, focusing on cardiovascular, cardio-renal-metabolic, and respiratory therapeutic areas.
The collaboration aims to deliver sustainable solutions and treatments to patients in Egypt, as well as expand Boehringer Ingelheim’s presence in the country.
Marianne Abou Elkheir, General Manager and Head of Human Pharma at Boehringer Ingelheim, for Levant, Iraq and North-East Africa (LINEA), and Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), expressed her confidence in the partnership’s ability to strengthen their leadership position in Egypt.
Ibnsina Pharma is the second-largest pharmaceutical distributor in Egypt, serving a wide range of customers, including pharmacies, hospitals, wholesalers, and healthcare institutions.
By partnering with Ibnsina Pharma, Boehringer Ingelheim hopes to provide patients with key biopharmaceutical innovations for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, respiratory diseases, and stroke.
Meanwhile, Boehringer Ingelheim’s commitment to creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace for its employees has been recognized by the 2022 Seramount Inclusion Index for the fifth time since 2018.
The company was feted based on its strong emphasis on building robust partnerships among colleagues and promoting a culture of belonging, resulting in its ability to recruit, retain, and advance underrepresented groups, including women, minorities, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQ+ community.
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