Boehringer boosts R&D funding for pivotal late-stage drugs

Boehringer Ingelheim announced plans to significantly increase its investment in key late-stage pipeline assets as part of its strategy to launch 25 new drugs by 2030. Chairman Hubertus von Baumbach highlighted promising data in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and anticipated results in oncology, mental health, and pulmonary fibrosis as reasons to expedite preparations for these late-stage assets.

Earlier this year, Boehringer Ingelheim outlined an ambitious roadmap, which included initiating 10 mid- and late-stage studies within the next 12 to 18 months. Von Baumbach emphasized that the company is expanding its research and development (R&D) investments beyond the plans announced in April. To date, the company has launched five new Phase I, II, or III studies focusing on cardiometabolic diseases, mental health, and oncology.

Among these initiatives is the advancement of survodutide (BI 456906), a glucagon/GLP-1 receptor dual agonist, into late-stage development for MASH. Additionally, a Phase I study has begun for BI 3034701, a long-acting triple agonist peptide for obesity. Frank Hübler, the board member responsible for finance, stressed the importance of strategic resource allocation as the company’s pipeline expands in both depth and breadth.

In the first half of the year, Boehringer Ingelheim reported a 9.3% increase in sales of human prescription medicines on a currency-adjusted basis, reaching €10.3 billion ($11.3 billion). This growth was primarily driven by the performance of Jardiance and Ofev. Overall, the company’s revenue for the six-month period rose by 7.4% to €12.9 billion ($14.1 billion).