Entering a discovery-stage collaboration

INGELHEIM, Germany & SAN DIEGO—Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) and Trutino Biosciences recently announced they had entered into a research collaboration and worldwide licensing agreement based on Trutino’s On-Demand-Cytokine (ODC) platform. Under the terms of the strategic alliance, BI gains access to Trutino’s ODC platform technology for the generation and development of up to three new ODC candidates.

This new collaboration combines Boehringer Ingelheim’s long-term strategy to provide first-in-class, breakthrough therapies for cancer patients with Trutino’s unique knowledge and expertise in increasing the safety and efficacy of cytokine therapies.

“Developing a strong and innovative cytokine therapeutic program as an additional component of our cancer immunology portfolio demonstrates how we are ‘Taking Cancer On,’ and provides a high potential combination partner for our existing cancer vaccine, oncolytic virus, T cell engager and myeloid-targeting therapeutics portfolio,” said Dr. Jonathon Sedgwick, senior vice president and global head of Cancer Immunology & Immune Modulation Research at BI. “We are very pleased to partner with Trutino and harness the potential of their innovative scientific platform to develop treatment breakthroughs that will transform the lives of cancer patients.”

Trutino’s clinical potential was initially recognized by Boehringer Ingelheim through its grassroots programs, including the “BI Innovation Prize,” where the ODC platform technology was an early-stage standout in the 2019 program held in San Diego.

The partnership with Trutino is expected to strengthen BI’s next-generation immuno-oncology portfolio, which combines cancer vaccines, oncolytic viruses, T cell engagers and myeloid targeting platforms with the aim of making “cold” tumors that are invisible to the immune system “hot,” thereby rallying the immune system against the tumor.

Under the terms of the agreement, Boehringer Ingelheim will provide an upfront payment, near-term preclinical milestone payments, and clinical, regulatory and commercial milestone payments—including royalties on future product sales.