The pharmaceutical sector is often defined through its collaborative efforts and strategic alignments, with pharmaceutical and biotech companies doubling down on collaboration. Companies such as Boehringer Ingelheim and EVOQ Therapeutics recently announced collaborations focused on advancing antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), along with delivering treatments for autoimmune diseases.

Boehringer Ingelheim

Boehringer Ingelheim recently announced its global collaboration and licensing agreement with AimedBio, focusing on developing an ADC therapy for a broad range of cancers.¹ The collaboration is expected to strengthen Boehringer’s ADC pipeline, which is propelled by its subsidiary NBE Therapeutics.1Under terms of the agreement, AimedBio isset to receive upwards of $991 million in total payments, including an upfront payment, development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments, and separate payments based on net sales.¹

“We believe this program has the potential to transform the treatment landscape for many cancers that currently lack effective options. Partnering with Boehringer will help advance this program with the speed, scale, and expertise needed to validate this novel target and approach,” said Do-Hyun Nam, CTO of AimedBio. “Boehringer’s strong commitment to next-generation cancer therapies makes them the ideal partner to carry this program forward into the clinic and beyond.”

AimedBio’s ADC was designed to target a highly expressed protein seen across a broad spectrum of cancers that is minimally present in normal tissues and plays a significant role in tumor growth, metastasis, and resistance to therapy. Targeting this protein with an ADC is expected to enable highly specific cytotoxic action against the tumor cells, enhancing efficacy and supporting better outcomes for patients.¹

“ADCs are a powerful therapeutic approach that combines biological precision with chemical potency,” said Vittoria Zinzalla,global head of experimental medicine at Boehringer Ingelheim. “Targeting the specific cancer surface marker with AimedBio’s ADC may expand precision medicine treatment options for currently hard to treat cancers and potentially deliver meaningful benefit to patients. We are proud to move this program into the clinic as part of our mission to transform cancer care.”

EVOQ Therapeutics

EVOQ and Sanofi announced a collaborative and licensing agreement aiming to advance EVOQ’s NanoDisc technology to help create therapy solutions for autoimmune disease.² NanoDisc technology was designed to restore the body's natural immune tolerance pathways, which yields the opportunity to develop a wide range of disease-specific therapies for a variety of autoimmune diseases such as celiac disease, type 1 diabetes, MOG (myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein) antibody disease, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.² According to a press release from EVOQ, current standard of care treatments don’t address the root cause of autoimmune disease, which is the breakdown and failure of the body's immune tolerance systems, resulting in the destruction of self-tissues.² EVOQ believes that, in order to cure autoimmune disease, immune tolerance must be restored.

Per the terms stated in the agreement, EVOQ and Sanofi will collaborate on research activities, with Sanofi being granted responsibility for development and commercialization efforts worldwide. EVOQ is expected to receive upwards of $500 million in total, in upfront, preclinical, development and sales milestones, along with tiered royalties on product sales.²

"We are truly thrilled to be collaborating with Sanofi to advance our NanoDisc technology," said David Giljohann, Ph.D., chief executive officer at EVOQ. Giljohann added, "Sanofi's know-how in autoimmune disease and leadership in immunology will bring clinical development expertise and commercial presence thereby making Sanofi a highly credible and attractive partner for our technology, uniquely positioned to deliver breakthrough efficacy and convenience for patients."

Sources

1. Boehringer Ingelheim advances cancer antibody-drug conjugate portfolio with asset from AimedBio Boehringer Ingelheim October 16, 2025 https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/10/15/3167043/0/en/Boehringer-Ingelheim-advances-cancer-antibody-drug-conjugate-portfolio-with-asset-from-AimedBio.html
   
2. EVOQ Therapeutics Announces Collaboration and License Agreement with Sanofi EVOQ Therapeutics October 16, 2025 https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/evoq-therapeutics-announces-collaboration-and-license-agreement-with-sanofi-302585825.html