Boehringer acquires Northern Biologics preclinical oncology pipeline

Boehringer Ingelheim has acquired two preclinical antibodies from Canadian firm Northern Biologics with the aim of further strengthening its global position in cancer immunology.

The assets acquired from Northern Biologics in this deal are designed to target two aspects of what is known as the tumour microenvironment: stroma, or connective tissue made up of different cell types, and myeloid cells.

The financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, although the companies said the agreement includes an upfront payment as well as other potential payments tied to progress of the drug candidates.

Northern Biologics, which has the support of investor Versant Ventures, was founded in Toronto in 2014. In 2016, it merged with Catalan biotechnology company Mosaic Biomedicals, under the management of Judit Anido, who is currently vice-president of Operations and Corporate Affairs at Northern and president of CataloniaBio & HealthTech.

Now, Northern Biologics will focus on its main asset, MSC-1, from Mosaic Biomedicals founded by doctors Joan Seoane and Judit Anido. MSC-1 is an anti-LIF antibody, which plays a role in tumour growth and progression in some cancers and has successfully completed phase I clinical trials in patients with advanced cancer. MSC-1 is ready to begin phase Ib/II.

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Photo: Philip Vickers and Judit Anido, CEO and VP of Operations and Corporate Affairs of Northern Biologics, respectively.