AbbVie and Boehringer Ingelheim have entered a global collaboration to develop and commercialize BI 655066, an anti-IL-23 monoclonal antibody in Phase III development for psoriasis. The companies are also evaluating the drug’s potential in Crohn’s disease, psoriatic arthritis and asthma. In addition to the anti-IL-23 antibody, AbbVie gains rights to an anti-CD-40 antibody, BI 655064, currently in Phase I development. Boehringer will retain responsibility for further development of BI 655064, and AbbVie may elect to advance the program after certain undisclosed clinical achievements.
 
“This collaboration positions BI 655066 as AbbVie’s lead investigational compound in psoriasis, complementing our robust immunology pipeline,” said Michael E. Severino, M.D., executive vice president and chief scientific officer, AbbVie. “Our expertise in developing and commercializing the world’s leading biologic, combined with Boehringer Ingelheim’s clinical success to-date will enable us to offer patients a new treatment option with the potential to meaningfully improve the standard of care.”
 
“Our Immunology R&D teams have successfully brought forward compounds that have the potential to transform the way immune diseases are treated. I believe the collaboration with AbbVie is the best way to ensure broad access for patients to BI 655066 and BI 655064,” said Dr. Michel Pairet, Member of the Board of Managing Directors responsible for R&D nonclinical at Boehringer Ingelheim. “Our company remains strongly committed to establishing immunology as a core area of expertise and building our pipeline and capabilities in this important therapeutic area.”
 
Recent Phase II results in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis showed that BI 655066 had greater efficacy over ustekinumab, a commonly used treatment. After nine months, 69% of patients maintained clear or almost clear skin with BI 655066 in the higher dose group compared to 30% of patients on ustekinumab. Patients also achieved skin clearance faster (approximately eight weeks versus 16 weeks) and for more than two months longer.