Boehringer Ingelheim joins forces with Salipro Biotech to tackle “undruggable” targets

GERMANY/SWEDEN— Boehringer Ingelheim, a leading global pharmaceutical company, has teamed up with Salipro Biotech, a Swedish innovator, to speed up drug discovery and development.

This collaboration aims to advance treatments that target G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), transporters, and ion channels—vital elements in treating cardio-renal-metabolic and mental health issues.

These targets have long been challenging to study, yet they hold immense promise for groundbreaking therapeutic advances.

Central to this partnership lies Salipro Biotech’s unique platform technology, which preserves membrane proteins in their natural states.

By maintaining the structural integrity of these proteins, the platform enhances their utility in drug discovery efforts, such as small molecule screening, antibody development, and structure-based drug design.

This innovative strategy is anticipated to boost the efficiency of Boehringer Ingelheim’s drug discovery pipeline.

As part of the agreement, Boehringer will undertake structural and biophysical studies, including cryo-electron microscopy, to pinpoint promising drug candidates.

The collaboration will also include research payments and option fees from Boehringer to Salipro, with Salipro set to receive milestone payments based on successful development outcomes.

Jens Frauenfeld, CEO of Salipro Biotech, shared his excitement about the collaboration: “By merging our Salipro platform technology with Boehringer Ingelheim’s expertise in structural studies, we are unlocking new avenues for drug discovery.”

This reflects the potential synergy between Salipro’s stabilization technology and Boehringer’s advanced research capabilities.

Salipro Biotech has a track record of forging strategic partnerships with various pharmaceutical and biotech firms.

For instance, in October 2023, Salipro collaborated with Icosagen on antibody research focused on multiple drug candidates.

Moreover, the company has strengthened its intellectual property portfolio, securing patents for its platform technology in Australia and Singapore in December 2024.

 These patents solidify its position as a trailblazer in stabilizing challenging drug targets like GPCRs and ion channels.

This latest agreement with Boehringer further establishes Salipro’s growing reputation as a pioneer in making “undruggable” targets accessible.

Through a combination of internal initiatives and external collaborations, the Swedish company is leading the charge in developing next-generation therapeutics that address unmet medical needs.

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