Boehringer Ingelheim obtains exclusive rights for Saiba Animal Health’s candidate

Founded as a spin-off company from the University of Zürich, Saiba Animal Health AG has developed a novel and innovative virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine nanotechnology platform based on non-infectious virus-like particles to treat chronic inflammatory diseases, cancer and allergy in pets. The patented vaccine technology transforms the most recent and effective class of human medicines into a new, effective and affordable veterinary medicine class. VLP vaccines induce strong, long-lived and highly specific antibody responses against the disease target, which can inhibit disease-promoting or disease-associated self-proteins.

Early this year, the Pfäffikon (SZ)-startup revealed a partnership with an unnamed company, a leading global animal health company, that would exercise its option to take an exclusive license for the commercialisation and development of one of its product candidates.

Just recently, another development milestone has been achieved. Boehringer Ingelheim, a global leader in animal health, has agreed to acquire an exclusive license for commercialising and developing Saiba’s product candidate. The strategic partnership comes after the companies’ R&D teams recorded promising preclinical results in the target species. According to the press release, the two companies had collaborated since December 2020.

Dr. Gary T. Jennings, CEO of Saiba Animal Health AG, commented: “The execution of the development and commercialisation option by Boehringer Ingelheim is a significant milestone for Saiba and is driven by a convincing preclinical data-set generated by Boehringer Ingelheim’s and Saiba Animal Health’s R&D teams. We very much look forward to the product candidate advancing into development and achieving its potential to address a significant unmet veterinary need. Boehringer Ingelheim’s continued investment in the product candidate acknowledges the potential for our platform technology and pipeline projects to be translated into cost-effective therapies for companion animals.”

The license execution triggers an upfront payment which Saiba Animal Health AG will invest to further advance its technology and other pipeline candidates.

(Press release/RAN)