Boehringer Ingelheim and Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. (Kyowa
Kirin, TSE:4151, President and CEO: Masashi Miyamoto) today announced that they have entered into a license
agreement to develop a novel, first-in-class treatment for fibro-inflammatory diseases. The new development
program is part of Boehringer Ingelheim’s commitment to combat fibro-inflammatory diseases by developing
breakthrough therapies, building on the company’s expertise and leadership in this disease area, to improve patient
outcomes.
Under the terms of the agreement, Boehringer Ingelheim will receive exclusive, worldwide rights from Kyowa Kirin to
develop novel, first-in-class treatments for fibro-inflammatory diseases. Kyowa Kirin is eligible to receive up to EUR
410 million comprising of an upfront payment, success-based development, regulatory, and commercial milestone
payments, in addition to royalties on sales.
Fibro-inflammatory diseases result from chronic inflammation caused by a variety of factors including persistent
infections, autoimmune reactions, allergic responses and tissue injury. Examples are systemic sclerosis, inflammatory
bowel disease, lung fibrosis and others. They are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Living with fibroinflammatory diseases greatly impact patients’ lives, both physically and emotionally and they account for more than
one third of deaths worldwide.
“There is a huge remaining unmet patient need in fibro-inflammatory diseases,” said Clive R. Wood, Ph.D., Corporate
Senior Vice President and Global Head of Discovery Research at Boehringer Ingelheim. “We are very excited about
partnering with Kyowa Kirin and being able to add this opportunity to our portfolio to develop new breakthrough
treatments for patients with this new collaboration.”
“We are pleased to announce that we have signed the License Agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim.” said Takeyoshi
Yamashita, Ph.D., Director of the Board, Chief Medical Officer, Senior Managing Executive Officer of Kyowa Kirin. “The
compound was discovered through Kyowa Kirin’s expertise in innovative technology and disease biology. Boehringer
Ingelheim is highly regarded for its expertise in fibro-inflammatory diseases, and we believe that they should be the
best partner to maximize and deliver the value of our compound for patients in need.”
Boehringer Ingelheim is a global leader in the research and development of treatments for fibro-inflammatory
diseases. The company has pioneered the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis with the introduction of OFEV®, approved
for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (PF/ILD) and
systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD). BI 1015550, a phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) inhibitor,
is currently being investigated in Phase 3 clinical studies in patients with IPF and with other progressive fibrosing ILDs.
About Boehringer Ingelheim
Boehringer Ingelheim is working on breakthrough therapies that transform lives, today and for generations to come. As a leading research-driven
biopharmaceutical company, the company creates value through innovation in areas of high unmet medical need. Founded in 1885 and familyowned ever since, Boehringer Ingelheim takes a long-term, sustainable perspective. More than 53,000 employees serve over 130 markets in the
two business units Human Pharma and Animal Health.
