Boehringer Ingelheim and Bridge Biotherapeutics Inc. have entered a new collaboration and license agreement with the goal of developing Bridge Biotherapeutics’ autotaxin inhibitor, BBT-877, for patients with fibrosing interstitial lung diseases, including Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). BBT-877 is currently in Phase I clinical studies and is anticipated to enter Phase II testing within the next 12 months. 
 
Michel Pairet, member of Boehringer Ingelheim’s Board of Managing Directors with responsibility for the company’s Innovation Unit said, “We look forward to working with the team at Bridge Biotherapeutics to develop a new treatment option for patients with IPF.  This new collaboration complements our growing pipeline in fibrosing interstitial lung diseases and is a sign of our determination to bring the next generation of treatment options to these patients.” 
 
“Bridge Biotherapeutics is pleased to partner with Boehringer Ingelheim, a recognized leader in IPF. The expertise of Boehringer Ingelheim will ensure that our novel therapeutic candidate can be developed to potentially address unmet medical needs of IPF patients worldwide,” said James Lee, CEO of Bridge Biotherapeutics.
 
“This is a transformational event for Bridge Biotherapeutics with a total potential value in excess of EUR 1.1 billion. It is a testament to the company’s excellence in the development of novel therapeutics for disease areas with high unmet medical need,” commented B. Chris Kim, PhD, a board member of Bridge Biotherapeutics based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.