Boehringer Ingelheim and Sino Biopharmaceutical (SBP Group) have entered into a strategic multi-programme option and licence agreement to advance six pre-clinical oncology programmes based on Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) and T-cell Engager (TcE) technologies. The collaboration aims to develop next-generation cancer treatments by combining SBP Group's drug discovery platforms and early-development capabilities with Boehringer Ingelheim's global oncology research and development expertise. 

The agreement marks an expansion of the companies' existing oncology partnership and covers six biologic pre-clinical programmes. Five programmes are being developed by LaNova Medicines (Shanghai), a wholly owned subsidiary of SBP Group, while the sixth comes from another subsidiary, Beijing Tide Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Under the agreement, SBP Group will be responsible for early-stage development. Following the achievement of agreed clinical milestones, Boehringer Ingelheim will have the option to obtain exclusive development, manufacturing and commercialisation rights. These rights will cover markets outside mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau for four programmes, while the remaining two programmes will have worldwide rights.

As part of the agreement, SBP Group will receive upfront and near-term payments totalling USD 7 billion, along with tiered royalties on future product sales.

ADCs are designed to deliver potent therapeutic agents selectively to cancer cells, while T-cell engagers work by activating and directing immune cells towards cancer cells. The two technologies represent complementary approaches to targeted cancer treatment and immunotherapy.

Paola Casarosa, Member of the Board of Managing Directors and Head of the Innovation Unit at Boehringer Ingelheim, said the collaboration would strengthen the company's development portfolio of ADCs and T-cell engagers. She added that the partnership would connect innovation from China with Boehringer Ingelheim's global research and development capabilities to advance potential treatment options for patients with difficult-to-treat cancers.

Boehringer Ingelheim is expanding its oncology portfolio across cancer cell-directed therapies and immuno-oncology. The collaboration also supports its strategy to strengthen engagement with China's biotechnology and pharmaceutical innovation ecosystem. The company's recently opened China R&D Centre in Shanghai is expected to expand its early clinical development and external innovation capabilities while connecting local research with its global R&D network.