Boehringer Ingelheim today announced the execution of the agreement on the acquisition of Labor Dr. Merk & Kollegen (LMK) – a privately-held company with outstanding experience in process development, manufacturing and analytical characterization in virology besides expertise in microbiology and cell culture.

 

The Transaction expands Boehringer Ingelheim’s oncolytic virus and cancer vaccine R&D capabilities and capacities by establishing an end-to-end fully integrated center of excellence for virus development and clinical manufacturing.

 

LMK founded in 1971 and headquartered in Ochsenhausen, Germany, close to Boehringer Ingelheim’s Biberach R&D site, will be integrated with all employees as a new unit into Boehringer Ingelheim’s Development organization. It will continue to operate at its Ochsenhausen site. A future expansion is planned.

 

The companies did not disclose the financial terms of the deal. The transaction is subject to the approval of the competition authorities in Germany. Closing will follow thereafter.

 

Accelerating the delivery of first-in-class immuno-oncology therapies to patients around the world
Boehringer Ingelheim is taking cancer on by strengthening its position in cancer immunology, with a focus on cancer vaccines, oncolytic viruses, T-cell engagers, stromal modulators and myeloid cell modulators by combining its world-class, in-house research and development with that of highly innovative external companies.

“The acquisition of Labor Dr. Merk & Kollegen is strengthening our promising pipeline with diverse potential first-in-class cancer immunology and cancer cell directed therapies for patients with hard-to-treat cancer,” said Dr. Michel Pairet, member of Boehringer Ingelheim’s Board of Managing Directors with responsibility for the company’s Innovation Unit. “The trusting and highly effective collaboration between our scientists and the Labor Dr. Merk & Kollegen team has already contributed significantly to our progress in viral-based cancer therapies. We will welcome the Labor Dr. Merk & Kollegen team and look forward to jointly advancing our program in this area.”
 

A site focused predominantly on ATMP-based cancer immunology treatments
The addition of LMK's site will enable Boehringer Ingelheim to further expand and accelerate its comprehensive program for the development of ATMP-based immuno-oncology therapies including the Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) with modified glycoprotein (GP) platform and cancer vaccines platforms.

 

As a center of excellence in virology, Labor Dr. Merk & Kollegen has a long track record in GLP and GMP certified biosafety testing. In recent years Labor Dr. Merk & Kollegen established its GMP-virus manufacturing facility. With around 130 highly qualified and specialized employees, the company has built considerable expertise in process development, manufacturing and analytical characterization of viral therapeutics and oncolytic viral therapeutics.

“Following our successful strategic partnership, we are really excited to join forces with Boehringer Ingelheim,” said Dr. Ingrid Rapp, CEO at Labor Dr. Merk & Kollegen. “Boehringer Ingelheim is a truly global pharmaceutical company with excellent R&D capacities. We look forward to taking our next development step in oncology as part of this outstanding team.” 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Boehringer Ingelheim. (2020, December 9). Boehringer Ingelheim to Acquire Labor Dr. Merk & Kollegen to Strengthen its Next Generation Cancer Immunology Program [Press release].