Boehringer Ingelheim and Re-Vana Therapeutics have entered a strategic collaboration to develop long-acting ophthalmic therapies.
The partnership aims to create extended-release treatments for eye diseases using Re-Vana’s drug delivery technology, advancing ocular therapeutics.
Established in 2016 as a spin-out from Queen’s University Belfast, Re-Vana Therapeutics specialises in ocular therapeutics and drug delivery technologies.
Under the terms of the agreement, Boehringer Ingelheim plans to initiate up to three projects annually across various therapeutic modalities.
The companies will jointly manage Re-Vana’s activities, while Boehringer Ingelheim will handle clinical development, regulatory approval, and global commercialisation.
The deal includes upfront, development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments to Re-Vana, potentially exceeding $1bn for the initial targets, along with royalties on net sales.
Re-Vana CEO Michael O’Rourke said: “The strategic collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim marks a transformational moment for Re-Vana.
“By combining our extended-release platform with Boehringer Ingelheim’s world-class research and development capabilities and eye health pipeline, we strive to bring forward a new generation of long-acting treatments for eye diseases that offer clinical and quality-of-life benefits for patients.”
Boehringer Ingelheim’s diverse pipeline in eye health, featuring four assets in Phase 2, underscores its commitment to preserving vision and enhancing quality of life.
Re-Vana’s technology aims to release treatments over six to twelve months, reducing the frequency of injections and potentially improving treatment adherence and outcomes.
Boehringer Ingelheim will explore integrating the technology with its existing pipeline.
Boehringer Ingelheim mental health, eye health and emerging areas global head Nedim Pipic said: “We’re looking forward to team up with Re-Vana to push the boundaries of what’s possible in eye health.
“Together, we want to tackle the limits of today’s treatments – aiming to help people keep their sight, with fewer injections. This partnership is a bold step forward in our mission to protect vision and ease the burden on patients.”
Earlier this year, Boehringer Ingelheim teamed up with Cue Biopharma to develop and market CUE-501, a next-generation treatment for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
The partnership aims to leverage Cue Biopharma’s unique approach to B-cell depletion therapy, enhancing benefits and safety compared to existing treatments targeting B cells.
Cue Biopharma will receive an up-front payment of $12m, along with research support payments, and royalty payments on net sales.
