AUSTRIA — Pharmaceutical giant Boehringer Ingelheim has inaugurated a €60 million (US$66.8 million) research facility in Vienna, Austria, signalling its commitment to advancing oncology therapeutics.
The new research building is named in honour of Angelika Amon, a renowned Viennese cell biology pioneer who passed away in 2020 after battling ovarian cancer.
Boehringer Ingelheim noted that Amon was “closely connected” to the company, highlighting the significance of her legacy in their ongoing efforts.
According to a press release issued on September 25, the Angelika Amon research facility will accommodate 150 employees across 11 floors and provide a collaborative space for innovative research.
This facility features architectural enhancements designed to align with the company’s sustainability goals.
As part of its commitment to becoming carbon-neutral by 2030, Boehringer Ingelheim has incorporated photovoltaic arrays on the roof and façade, which are expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 45 tons annually.
Additionally, the building is equipped with electrochromic glass that automatically darkens in response to sunlight, effectively lowering cooling requirements by 30%.
While Boehringer Ingelheim expressed that the laboratories will empower scientists to develop groundbreaking therapies for individuals living with cancer, specific cancer indications for research have not been disclosed.
Furthermore, the company has not provided details on which oncology indications will be targeted initially or how the workforce will be structured within the new facility.
The establishment of the Angelika Amon research building is part of Boehringer Ingelheim’s broader five-year investment plan, which amounts to US$7.8 billion.
As part of this strategy, the company opened a biomass power plant in Ingelheim, Germany, earlier this year and completed the Biologicals Development Centre in Biberach last year.
Moreover, a chemical innovation plant in Ingelheim is currently under construction and expected to be completed in 2026.
In an interview with Pharmaceutical Technology, Paola Casarosa, head of Boehringer Ingelheim’s innovation unit, emphasised the company’s mission to enhance human and animal health.
She highlighted oncology’s significant unmet medical needs and conveyed their enthusiasm for transforming cancer into a treatable disease.
Norbert Kraut, the company’s global head of cancer research, further stated that “around one-third of the new products at Boehringer Ingelheim will come from oncology” in the future.
In its 2023 full-year earnings report released in April, Boehringer Ingelheim outlined plans to initiate ten new Phase II and Phase III clinical trials over the next 12 to 18 months.
This initiative aligns with their ambitious target of bringing 25 new treatments to market by 2030.
Additionally, Boehringer Ingelheim acquired Nerio Therapeutics for US$1.3 billion in July as part of its ongoing cancer research efforts.
This acquisition gave it a preclinical immune checkpoint inhibitor program, which is expected to become a cornerstone of its immuno-oncology portfolio.
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