MITTEILUNG UEBERMITTELT VON BUSINESS WIRE. FUER DEN INHALT IST ALLEIN
DAS BERICHTENDE UNTERNEHMEN VERANTWORTLICH.
* The Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund (BIVF) extends its investment focus
to include regenerative medicine, infectious diseases and digital health
* BIVF increases its presence in the United States and adds new staff members
* Through its successful investments in immune-oncology, the BIVF has helped
the company elevate its presence across the global healthcare ecosystem and
establish a new focus area
INGELHEIM, Germany & BOSTON --(BUSINESS WIRE)--03.01.2018--
Boehringer Ingelheim today announced an increase in funding for its corporate
venture fund, known as the Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund (BIVF), from EUR
100 to 250 million. The additional funds will be used to invest in promising
early stage start-up companies, focusing on regenerative medicine, infectious
diseases and immune oncology among others, as well as growing the portfolio in
the U.S. and opening doors for the BIVF in digital health. The significant
additional funding goes along with a doubling of the number of investment
managers.
'We at the BIVF are inspired by the opportunity to increase investments and
work across some of the most promising areas of biomedical research to date,'
says Frank Kalkbrenner, M.D., Corporate Vice President and Head of the BIVF.
'We are thrilled to be opening a second U.S.-based office in 2018, which will
allow us to collaborate more closely with biotech and start-up companies on the
West Coast. This also brings us one step closer in our quest to be at the
centre of the global digital health transformation.'
The expansion builds on the BIVF's existing portfolio of 21 biotech and early
stage start-up companies focused on various therapeutic areas of interest,
including immune-oncology. Recent successes of the portfolio include:
* Rigontec is a forerunner in accessing the retinoic acid-inducible gene I
pathway, part of the innate immune system, as a novel and distinct approach
in cancer immunotherapy to induce both immediate and long-term anti-tumor
immunity. Rigontec was acquired by Merck (known as MSD outside of the U.S.
and Canada) in September 2017, with an upfront payment of EUR 115 million
and additional contingent payments of up to EUR 349 million.
* ViraTherapeutics specializes in the development of oncolytic virus
therapies. In 2016, BIVF entered into an option agreement with a
transaction value of up to EUR 210 million, including co-funding of
development activities of ViraTherapeutics's VSV-GP.
* Okairos is pioneering the development of T-cell based vaccines for major
infectious diseases, as well as cancer. In 2011, one year after the BIVF
was founded, the first investment was made in Okairos. The company was
acquired by GlaxoSmithKline in 2013, creating the first successful exit for
BIVF.
'The key differentiator for Boehringer Ingelheim's Venture Fund lies in the
close and trusted relationships with the portfolios and entrepreneurs with whom
we are privileged to work with,' added Kalkbrenner. 'Through these connections,
we've successfully developed a number of biotech start-ups - from creation to
exit - and we look forward to the ground-breaking work that lies ahead. We are
a team that welcomes new adventure and risk-taking, if it means delivering
novel solutions that will one day help patients everywhere lead healthier
lives.'
Boehringer Ingelheim's innovation strategy furthers its commitment to push the
boundaries of biomedical research and development by accelerating the delivery
of first in class breakthrough therapies for patients in need. The BIVF invests
in the development of pioneering science, which offers the potential to provide
significant benefits for patients, creating options for Boehringer Ingelheim to
expand into new areas. It actively works to spin-out and create companies from
academia, developing projects over a five to seven year time period with
initial investments in seed or series A funding. Staged investments start with
EUR 0.5-3 million and can amount to up to EUR 10-15 million in funding.
ENDS
LINK Press Release:
http://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/press-release/
bivf-funding-more-doubled-250-m
###
[CT]
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/
20180103005546/en/
Kontakt:
Boehringer Ingelheim Corporate Center GmbH
Dr. Reinhard Malin
Head of Communications Innovation Unit
Media + PR
P: +49 6132 77-90815 :: M: + 49 151 150 20 690
reinhard.malin@boehringeringelheim.com
or
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Linda Ruckel
Associate Director, Media and Corporate Reputation
Ridgefield, Connecticut
P: +1 203 791-6672 :: M: +1 203-957-5114
linda.ruckel@boehringer-ingelheim.com
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