BOEHRINGER-INGELHEIM
21.9.2021 14:02:26 CEST | Business Wire | Press release
Boehringer Ingelheim today announced the acquisition of Abexxa Biologics Inc., a biopharmaceutical company taking a new approach in the fields of immuno-oncology and oncology research to develop the next generation of precision medicines designed to revolutionize cancer treatments. The acquisition will allow Boehringer Ingelheim to access Abexxa’s expertise in targeting cancer-specific proteins that are located inside the cell, rather than those expressed on the cell membrane. This enlarges the pool of potential cancer antigen targets. In particular, Abexxa’s technology could lead to the development of cancer immunotherapies that are effective in a broader range of patients and cancer types.
“The acquisition of Abexxa bolsters our commitment to tumor-antigen discovery and new ways of targeting intracellular antigens. Their cutting-edge know-how and technologies for antigen discovery and novel antibody generation strongly complement the current approaches we have been applying successfully to enable immune-targeting of cancer cells,” said Clive R. Wood, Ph.D., corporate senior vice president and global head of discovery research, Boehringer Ingelheim. “By expanding our portfolio of antibodies binding novel intracellular tumor antigens, we are striving to develop unique and broadly applicable new immunotherapeutic approaches for cancer patients,” added Wood.
Abexxa’s innovative platform unlocks the ability to target intracellular antigens of cancer cells by recognizing their presentation on the cell surface by MHC class 1 molecules. While the Abexxa platform addresses the more common HLA-A2 peptide presentation, the company has developed specific expertise in the nonclassical MHC class 1 molecule HLA-E, which has the potential to impact a broader set of cancer patients’ antigens. More specifically, Abexxa has developed a first-in-class T-cell receptor (TCR)-like antibody that can be used to disrupt the NKG2A:HLA-E immune checkpoint axis in oncology. Abexxa molecules are also being formulated to recruit immune cells targeting HLA-E peptide complexes on tumors.
In 2016, Boehringer Ingelheim’s Venture Fund, the arm of the company that invests in ground-breaking therapeutic and digital health approaches, awarded Abexxa initial investment funding. Later that year, Abexxa won Boehringer Ingelheim’s Innovation Prize, which facilitates business growth and rewards new companies for their dedication to innovation. The prize allowed Abexxa to expand operations into a shared lab space in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to continue its research. Boehringer Ingelheim’s investment in Abexxa demonstrates how the company is seeking to foster innovation across leading biotech communities, including the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, area.
“The investment by Boehringer Ingelheim’s Venture Fund in 2016 was a defining moment for Abexxa,” said Debra Wawro Weidanz, co-founder and CEO of Abexxa. “The acquisition by Boehringer Ingelheim allows our team to access the company’s expertise and capabilities in immuno-oncology and antibody development and to have the opportunity to translate Abexxa technology into a clinical asset,” said Jon Weidanz, Ph.D., co-founder and CSO of Abexxa.
This transaction is the latest in a series of strategic acquisitions and collaborations that reinforce Boehringer Ingelheim’s overall oncology strategy, bringing together cancer immunology and cancer cell directed therapies to fight cancer. This strategy has further strengthened Boehringer Ingelheim’s position in oncology through the development of leading assets and robust capabilities in cancer vaccines, oncolytic viruses, T-cell engagers, antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) and myeloid and stromal cell modulators. By combining its world-class in-house research and development with that of highly innovative biotechnology companies like Abexxa, Boehringer Ingelheim is developing innovative cancer immunology therapies and accelerating the delivery of the next generation of cancer treatments.
Learn more about Boehringer Ingelheim’s innovation in oncology here .
The total transaction includes an upfront payment, milestones and other consideration payments. Abexxa will continue to operate in the Arlington, Texas, area as a Boehringer Ingelheim family company, collaborating extensively with the colleagues at Boehringer Ingelheim’s U.S. research site in Ridgefield, Connecticut.
Please click on the following link for ‘Notes to Editors’:
http://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/press-release/acquisition-expands-research-cancer-immunology
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210921005613/en/
Link:
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
HOF Capital Completes €1 Billion Acquisition of Porsche’s Stakes in Bugatti Rimac and Rimac Group9.9.2026 18:00:00 CEST | Press release
HOF Capital today announced the completion of its acquisition of Porsche’s equity interests in Bugatti Rimac and Rimac Group through an HOF-led consortium. The transaction, first announced in April 2026, closed following the satisfaction of all conditions, including regulatory clearances. Porsche’s combined interests were valued at approximately €1 billion. HOF Capital originated and led the transaction, assembling a consortium of institutional investors from the United States and Europe. Following completion of the transaction, HOF holds a 23.5% stake and becomes the largest shareholder in Rimac Group, which holds the 55% controlling interest in Bugatti Rimac. HOF and its consortium also acquired Porsche’s direct 45% interest in Bugatti Rimac. As part of the investment, HOF Capital holds three supervisory board seats across Rimac Group and Bugatti Rimac. Hisham Elhaddad, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of HOF Capital, has joined the Supervisory Boards of both Bugatti Rimac and Rimac G
The Rock-It Company Expands Dynamic Dox to Provide ATA Carnet Services Across the US and Canada9.9.2026 17:00:00 CEST | Press release
Expansion provides access and expert ATA Carnet services for customers across new regions The Rock-It Company announced today the expansion of Dynamic Dox, the industry-leading provider of ATA Carnets, to now service partners and projects based in the United States, Canada and beyond. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260909137375/en/ Following over a decade of expertise and leading service across the United Kingdom since 2014, Dynamic Dox will now provide new regions with dedicated document preparation for time-sensitive logistics projects, and urgent ATA Carnets for international shipments and critical business travel needs. The news of the expansion follows Dynamic Dox’s recent brand refresh, introducing an updated identity and connection to The Rock-It Company as Dynamic Dox By Rock-It. The expansion is led by Amanda Barlow, VP of Global ATA Carnets at The Rock-It Company, who has helped to drive the platfor
Ennov Appoints Oxana Pickeral as Chief Executive Officer9.9.2026 16:00:00 CEST | Press release
Ennov (the “Company”), a global provider of a unified compliance platform that streamlines regulatory, clinical, quality, and pharmacovigilance operations for life sciences and healthcare companies, today announced the appointment of Dr. Oxana Pickeral as Chief Executive Officer. Founder and outgoing CEO, Olivier Pâris, will join Ennov’s Board of Directors and continue to support the company as a Strategic Advisor. Dr. Pickeral has spent her career at the forefront of innovation in life sciences technology, from her early work on the Human Genome Project to growing Amazon Web Services’ Healthcare & Life Sciences partner business, enabling modern cloud solutions across the industry. She joins Ennov most recently from Honeywell, where she served as Global Software and Connected Life Sciences business leader, and previously as President and CEO of Sparta Systems, a Honeywell company. Across her leadership roles, she has successfully scaled global companies at the intersection of life scie
Three Chugai Researchers Behind the Discovery of Hemlibra for Hemophilia A Receive Prestigious U.S. Lasker Award, One of the World’s Most Respected Scientific Honors9.9.2026 15:45:00 CEST | Press release
- Recognized for the invention of a bispecific antibody that transformed treatment paradigm through an unconventional approach – Recognized for realizing a novel drug discovery concept in which a bispecific antibody replaces the function of coagulation Factor VIII, which is deficient in hemophilia A. Provided improved convenience through prolonged activity and subcutaneous administration, and provided a treatment option regardless of factor VIII inhibitors, thereby helping address unmet medical needs in hemophilia A. First time since the establishment of the Lasker Foundation in 1945 that three Japanese researchers have received the award simultaneously. Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (TOKYO: 4519) today announced that Dr. Kunihiro Hattori (former Senior Fellow of Chugai), Dr. Takehisa Kitazawa (Deputy Head of Research Division, Chugai), and Dr. Tomoyuki Igawa (Head of Research Division, Chugai), who led the creation of Hemlibra (emicizumab), a treatment for hemophilia A, have been aw
AMCS Appoints Richard Humphrey as Chief Product and Technology Officer9.9.2026 15:00:00 CEST | Press release
Industrial software executive to lead global product strategy and accelerate AI innovation AMCS, a leading technology provider for the waste and recycling industry, today announced the appointment of Richard Humphrey as Chief Product and Technology Officer. Based in Boston, Humphrey will lead the company’s global product organisation. Humphrey brings more than 25 years of experience developing software for construction and other complex industrial environments. He joins AMCS as the company deepens its focus on waste and recycling and expands the role of AI across its platform. Most recently, Humphrey served as Chief Product and Technology Officer at Contruent, where he led product strategy for a construction cost-management platform used on major capital programmes. He previously held vice president roles at Bentley Systems and B2W Software. Earlier in his career, he spent more than a decade at Autodesk, where he led its Civil Design and Construction software business as Senior Directo
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom