Boehringer Ingelheim expands biomarker-driven oncology programs

German family-owned drugmaker Boehringer Ingelheim and Epizyme (Nasdaq: EPZM) today announced a new global collaboration which could be worth more than $300 million, focused on the research, development and commercialization of novel small molecule inhibitors directed toward two previously unaddressed epigenetic targets as potential therapies for people with cancer.

Specifically, these targets are enzymes within the helicase and histone acetyltransferase (HAT) families that when dysregulated have been linked to the development of cancers that currently lack therapeutic options.

“Boehringer Ingelheim’s collaboration with Epizyme furthers our strategic vision to profoundly impact the oncology treatment landscape by enabling a new generation of precision medicines,” said Clive Wood, senior corporate vice president, discovery research, Boehringer Ingelheim, adding: “We are excited to launch this partnership with Epizyme and to work together with them to advance epigenetic inhibitors that have the potential to transform the lives of patients and help win the fight against difficult-to-treat cancers.”