Boehringer and Re-Vana Partner on Eye Therapies

Boehringer Ingelheim and Re-Vana Therapeutics have announced a strategic collaboration and license agreement aimed at accelerating the development of first-in-class extended-release therapies for vision-threatening eye diseases.

Collaboration Focuses on Advancing Treatments for Chronic Ocular Diseases

The collaboration unites Boehringer Ingelheim’s eye health pipeline, featuring four clinical-stage assets, with Re-Vana’s proprietary sustained-release drug delivery platform. This technology can maintain therapeutic drug levels in the eye over six to twelve months. By reducing the frequency of injections, the partnership aims to improve patient compliance and overall quality of life for those living with chronic eye conditions.

Structure and Goals of the Partnership

As part of the agreement, Boehringer Ingelheim plans to initiate up to three new projects annually across different therapeutic areas. Both companies will jointly manage feasibility and early development phases, while Boehringer Ingelheim will assume full responsibility for clinical development, regulatory approval, and global commercialization of the therapies. The agreement also provides Boehringer Ingelheim with exclusivity for selected targets.

Financial Framework and Potential Value

The terms of the deal include upfront payments, as well as development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments to Re-Vana Therapeutics. The total potential value of the collaboration exceeds $1 billion for the first three targets. Additionally, Re-Vana will receive royalty payments based on the net sales of the commercialized products.

Aiming to Transform Treatment for Retinal Diseases

Patients with conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) often face the burden of monthly eye injections. Re-Vana’s extended-release technology could significantly transform this treatment model by offering longer-lasting therapeutic effects from a single administration, potentially reducing treatment burden and enhancing outcomes.

Leadership Insight

Michael O’Rourke, Chief Executive Officer of Re-Vana Therapeutics, highlighted the importance of the partnership:
“The strategic collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim marks a transformational moment for Re-Vana,” he said in a company statement. “By combining our extended-release platform with Boehringer Ingelheim’s world-class research and development capabilities and eye health pipeline, we strive to bring forward a new generation of long-acting treatments for eye diseases that offer clinical and quality-of-life benefits for patients.”