Boehringer Ingelheim to Acquire NBE-Therapeutics for $1.4 Billion

Boehringer Ingelheim announced it is acquiring NBE-Therapeutics, a clinical-stage Swiss biotechnology company, for EUR 1.18 billion (US$1.4 billion).

According to a Boehringer Ingelheim press release, the acquisition will enhance Boehringer Ingelheim’s cancer cell-directed therapies portfolio and will complement its existing capabilities in antigen discovery and antibody and T-cell engager technologies.

“NBE-Therapeutics’ iADC platform adds exceptional tumor targeting capabilities to our oncology portfolio. Together with our immune cell-targeting assets, this could enable new powerful combinations that will allow for efficacious and durable treatments for patients,” said Michel Pairet, member of Boehringer Ingelheim’s board of managing directors with responsibility for the company’s Innovation Unit, in the company press release. “This acquisition is a further example of Boehringer Ingelheim’s long-term strategy to enhance our position as an innovator of novel cancer therapies for patients in need. We welcome NBE-Therapeutics’ richly talented team to Boehringer Ingelheim and we look forward to collaborating with them on this important work.”

“I am extremely proud of the NBE-Therapeutics’ team and delighted that our world class ADC [antibody drug conjugate] expertise is being recognized by Boehringer Ingelheim. This transaction is a validation of our platform and its potential for the next generation cancer therapies,” added Bertrand Damour, CEO of NBE-Therapeutics, in the press release. “We look forward to progressing NBE-002, our lead program and best-in-class anti ROR1 ADC, and to continuing the fight against cancer alongside Boehringer Ingelheim with its strong clinical development capabilities.”

Source: Boehringer Ingelheim