Boehringer Ingelheim to surf with Melbourne-based biotech in $181M neuropsychiatric therapy deal
BIOMARKER
1. Boehringer Ingelheim is partnering with Australia's Kinoxis Therapeutics in a $181 million deal to develop therapies for neuropsychiatric disorders.
2. The collaboration will focus on developing small molecule oxytocin-targeting precision psychiatry treatments.
3. The goal of these treatments is to target the brain oxytocin system to treat disrupted social behavior.
4. Kinoxis will receive an undisclosed upfront fee and research support payments from Boehringer Ingelheim.
5. Additional milestone payments that could reach up to $181 million, as well as royalties on future sales, have been offered to Kinoxis.
6. Kinoxis, a privately-held Australian biotech, is developing treatments for substance use disorders and social dysfunction in neurological and psychiatric disorders.
7. The biotech's research is based on studies from the University of Sydney and is backed by Australian venture fund Uniseed.
8. Kinoxis also has funding from the U.S. National Institutes of Health National Institute on Drug Abuse for its lead drug KNX100, aimed at mitigating opioid withdrawal symptoms.
9. For Boehringer Ingelheim, this partnership adds to their existing projects in central nervous system and mental health therapies, including a phase 2 drug BI 1358894.
10. Boehringer Ingelheim also recently launched a clinical test for a smartphone app-based digital therapeutic to treat schizophrenia with Click Therapeutics.