Boehringer Ingelheim said its immune-modulatory cancer medicines will benefit from T3 Pharma's advanced technology, supporting the company's oncology plan of improving the lives of cancer patients
Boehringer Ingelheim acquires T3 Pharmaceuticals. (Credit: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH)
Germany-based Boehringer Ingelheim has completed the acquisition of Swiss biotechnology company T3 Pharmaceuticals in a deal worth up to CHF450m ($508m).
T3 Pharma, a spinout from the University of Basel in Switzerland, is a bacteria-focused immunotherapy company.
It has developed a therapy platform that leverages live bacteria to provide immune-modulating proteins to cancer cells and tumour micro-environments.
With the acquisition of T3 Pharma, Boehringer intends to expand its cancer pipeline.
The German firm aims to increase the rate of long-term remissions by using complementary immuno-oncology platforms such as T-cell engagers (TcEs), oncolytic viruses, and cancer vaccines.
These platforms are said to have the potential to convert cold tumours into hot ones and extend the benefits of immunotherapy to several needy patients.
Boehringer Ingelheim said its immune-modulatory cancer medicines will benefit from T3 Pharma’s advanced technology, supporting the company’s oncology plan of improving the lives of cancer patients.
T3 Pharma CEO Simon Ittig said: “We are extremely proud of the work of T3 Pharma’s team and very excited to continue and accelerate the successful development of our bacterial delivery platform as part of Boehringer Ingelheim.
“Being integrated with our partners at Boehringer will enable us to realize the full potential of our platform to fight solid cancers.”
Leveraging genetically modified Yersinia enterocolitica bacteria, T3 Pharma has created a new platform that delivers bioactive proteins directly and specifically into the tumour microenvironment while protecting healthy tissues.
Multiple immune-modulatory proteins of choice can be loaded into the bacteria, allowing for the creation of immuno-oncology combination treatments with a single agent, Boehringer Ingelheim said.
Boehringer Ingelheim board of managing director member Michel Pairet said: “The acquisition of T3 Pharma will significantly expand our immuno-oncology pipeline portfolio and is synergistic with many of our existing R&D programmes.
“This will bring us closer to achieving our vision of driving a paradigm shift in cancer care treatments.”