Boehringer Ingelheim aims to establish itself in oncology with 2 planned launches

Boehringer Ingelheim (BI), although not primarily known for its focus on oncology, remains committed to making significant strides in this therapeutic area. Ioannis Sapountzis, Ph.D., BI's global head of therapeutic areas, emphasized the company's dedication during an interview. With 25 drug launches planned by 2030, the German pharmaceutical company is set to increase its presence in the oncology field, notably with two new cancer drug launches slated for 2025.

The company's oncology research and development efforts are predominantly concentrated on two late-stage drug candidates: brigimadlin and zongertinib. Brigimadlin, which belongs to the MDM2-p53 antagonist drug class, has recently advanced into a critical trial phase for treating dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLPS), an aggressive and ultra-rare cancer. According to Sapountzis, DDLPS has a very poor prognosis and affects approximately 3,000 people globally. The current treatment for this cancer primarily involves chemotherapies such as doxorubicin, known for its severe side effects.

Developed over a decade of research, brigimadlin works by inhibiting the MDM2 oncoprotein from interacting with the cancer-suppressing p53 gene, thereby impeding cancer cell growth. Beyond DDLPS, BI aims to extend the drug's application to other sarcoma types. At the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) conference in Chicago, BI shared promising early study results of brigimadlin combined with radiotherapy in newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients, indicating further investigation into its efficacy is warranted.

Meanwhile, zongertinib is being tested as a treatment for HER2-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). BI plans to launch this tyrosine kinase inhibitor in the first half of 2025. The company is leveraging its existing infrastructure for Giotrif, a marketed drug for EGFR-mutated NSCLC, to prepare for zongertinib’s commercial release. In addition to Giotrif, BI markets Vargatef for specific lung cancer patients.

Sapountzis acknowledged that oncology is not the largest segment in BI's portfolio but highlighted the firm's dedication to making impactful advancements in this domain. To fuel its innovative pipeline, BI has been highly active in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), consistently seeking novel therapeutic approaches. Recently, BI invested 38.8 million euros ($42 million) to acquire a preclinical anti-PD1/cytokine medication from its long-term partner, OSE Immunotherapeutics, and to expand an existing oncology research collaboration.

In 2023, BI has also formed a partnership with 3T Biosciences for T-cell anti-cancer therapy development and collaborated with Suzhou Ribo Life Science and Ribocure Pharmaceuticals on using RNA to treat metabolic-associated steatohepatitis. Sapountzis stressed the importance of collaboration in BI's strategy, stating, "We want to be truly collaborative in everything we do. We feel that together, we can achieve more; together, we can really advance treatments much better."

In summary, while oncology is not the largest focus for Boehringer Ingelheim, the company is dedicated to making substantial contributions to this field. With several promising drugs in the pipeline and a robust strategy of innovation through partnerships and acquisitions, BI aims to significantly impact cancer treatment in the coming years.