• Milestones reached in cardiovascular, renal, metabolic health (CRM), and oncology
• Further data read-outs expected in 2024 in oncology, mental health, and pulmonary fibrosis
• Strong first half net sales growth of 7.4%* year on year

Boehringer Ingelheim, a leading research-driven biopharmaceutical company, reported on Thursday significant progress in its pipeline across key therapeutic areas as it reached major milestones in the first half of the year.

“We are stepping up our investments in R&D beyond our plans announced in April,” said Hubertus von Baumbach, Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors. “The data read-outs that we received in MASH and will receive for oncology, mental health, and pulmonary fibrosis give us reason to accelerate our launch preparedness for these late-stage assets. We are pleased to see our pipeline developing at such pace.”

Boehringer advanced its pipeline across clinical phases with five new phase I, II, or III initiations in cardiometabolic diseases, mental health, and oncology, and achieved two additional fast track designations for programs in inflammation. At the same time, the company announced nine R&D partnership agreements, significantly bolstering its human pharma portfolio across all therapeutic areas and tech platforms.

“As our pipelines continue to expand, both in depth and breadth, we need to apply a rigorous focus where we allocate our resources,” said Frank Hübler, Member of the Board of Managing Directors with responsibility for Finance. “We want to accelerate our pipeline where we can, to deliver innovative medicines to patients ever faster.”

Net sales rose by 7.4%* year-on-year to EUR 12.9 billion in the first six months of 2024, driven by ongoing high patient demand for Boehringer’s medications, especially for the JARDIANCE® product family and OFEV® in Human Pharma, and NEXGARD® in Animal Health.

Human Pharma

As Boehringer prepares for its future portfolio and ongoing and upcoming launches, the past months were marked by developments across all focus therapy areas. For the remainder of the year, more news is expected across the portfolio with data read-outs in oncology (Zongertinib), mental health (Iclepertin) and pulmonary fibrosis (Nerandomilast).

The company’s efforts to advance holistic cardiovascular, renal and metabolic (CRM) health met some major milestones. Positive Phase II data for survodutide in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) showed groundbreaking results in liver disease due to MASH, with 83.0% of adults treated with survodutide achieving significant improvements versus 18.2% for placebo (response difference: 64.8%; CI 51.1%-78.6%, p<0.0001).  Also, a sub analysis demonstrated that up to 64.5% of adults with fibrosis stages F2 and F3 (moderate to advanced scarring) achieved an improvement in fibrosis without worsening of MASH vs placebo, 25.9% [response difference: 38.6% (95% CI 18.1% - 59.1%), p=0.0005].¹

The company initiated a Phase III trial in chronic heart failure for its novel selective aldosterone synthase inhibitor (ASi) in combination with empagliflozin. In an upcoming Phase III trial in chronic kidney disease for ASi, Boehringer will collaborate with Oxford Population Health.

Boehringer has joined a multi-year sponsorship of the American Heart Association's Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Health Initiative. The initiative, which was announced recently, will allow the company to better understand the burden of people affected by diseases in these interconnected areas and enable better care.

Boehringer is committed to re-entering oncology with targeted investments. Phase Ia/Ib trial of Zongertinib, a HER2-specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor in patients with HER2 aberration-positive solid tumors, showed that Zongertinib was well tolerated and demonstrated promising efficacy. ²The Brightline-1 trial investigating Brigimadlin in dedifferentiated liposarcoma did not meet its primary endpoint, though the benefit-risk assessment remains positive. Data for both oncology trials will be presented at conferences in the coming months.

In the first six months of 2024, the Human Pharma business grew by 9.3%* year on year. Net sales stood at EUR 10.3 billion. Growth was driven primarily by the JARDIANCE® family and OFEV®. To meet growing demand, the company continues high investments in its production and supply network. In January, Boehringer announced a further expansion and upgrade of its plant in Koropi, Greece. With an investment of EUR 120 million, the company will increase the manufacturing capacity of new and existing medications, some of them in the late-stage development.