The German pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim has acquired global rights, excluding mainland China, to a preclinical bispecific drug for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) from China’s Simcere. The total deal value, including an upfront payment and milestone payments, could reach up to $1.26 billion.
According to Boehringer, in in vitro and in vivo studies, the drug candidate SIM0709 “demonstrated superior synergistic efficacy, outperforming the combination of the two corresponding monotherapies.” The long-acting bispecific antibody simultaneously targets the TL1A and IL-23 proteins, blocking two key pathways in the development of IBD.
More than 3 million people worldwide suffer from IBD — a progressive, lifelong disease that often leads to frequent hospitalizations and surgical interventions. Current treatments do not fully prevent or reverse these complications, Boehringer notes.
“The bispecific antibody SIM0709 was developed using our proprietary platform and has the potential to become a first-in-class treatment for IBD. The partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim provides the opportunity for rigorous global development of this compound,” said Simcere’s Chief Investment Officer, Gaobo Zhou.
This follows news of another deal involving Simcere. French company Ipsen entered into a licensing agreement with the firm to commercialize the antibody-drug conjugate SIM0617 for cancer treatment in markets outside Greater China. Under the terms of that deal, Simcere could receive up to $1.06 billion.
