Boehringer Ingelheim and Dijon, France-based Inventiva Pharma, a biopharma specializing in the development of innovative therapies for fibrosis, have announced the establishment of an idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) research and development (R&D) deal that is designed to accelerate development of next-generation IPF therapies.
IPF is a chronic and potentially life-threatening disease that leads to a progressive decline in lung function. The term “pulmonary fibrosis” refers to a scarring of the lung tissue and is the leading cause of worsening dyspnea (shortness of breath) in IPF patients.
Under the agreement, both companies’ research teams will jointly validate a new therapeutic concept focused on discovering novel medicines for the treatment of IPF and other fibrotic diseases.
The partnership combines Inventiva’s knowledge and proprietary technology in the field of transcriptional regulation and fibrosis with Boehringer’s capabilities in drug discovery and clinical development of new therapeutic agents.
If everything goes according to the plan for Inventiva, the partnership with Boehringer will only be the start of new discovery alliances.
“We plan, alongside developing our own pipeline, on pursuing our strategy of establishing collaborative research partnerships with the world’s biggest pharmaceutical companies,” said Inventiva CEO Pierre Broqua in a press release. “This new partnership further testifies to Inventiva’s expertise and contributes to strengthening our position as a leading and innovative actor in the field of fibrosis.”
The agreement states that Inventiva will benefit from research funding, milestones, and potential royalties on net sales. The money will be used to fund programs that are designed to explore still-undisclosed targets in fibrosis — a field in which Boehringer has already successfully developed its small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor Ofev.
Despite the success of Ofev, treatment options for IPF remain limited, even according to Boehringer, and there is still no known cause of the condition. The company recognizes the scope for bigger and better products — which will now be tested using Inventiva’s technology and expertise.
“We are very proud to enter into this collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim, a company well-reputed for its excellent research and development skills in the field of fibrosis, and particularly idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis,” Broqua said. “We plan, alongside developing our own pipeline, on pursuing our strategy of establishing collaborative research partnerships with the world’s biggest pharmaceutical companies. This new partnership further testifies to Inventiva’s expertise and contributes to strengthening our position as a leading and innovative actor in the field of fibrosis.”
Watch this interview on Scleroderma News with Inventiva CEO Pierre Broqua at #SSc16 earlier this year: