Boehringer Ingelheim Leverages IBM’s AI Tech for Novel Antibody Development

Boehringer Ingelheim Leverages IBM’s AI Tech for Novel Antibody Development

(IN BRIEF) Boehringer Ingelheim and IBM have formed a partnership to expedite the discovery of novel candidate antibodies for therapeutic purposes. Boehringer will utilize IBM’s foundation model technologies, combining them with their proprietary data to enhance the antibody discovery process. The collaboration aims to accelerate the identification of therapeutic antibodies for various diseases and streamline the development of innovative treatments. The partnership highlights Boehringer’s commitment to advancing drug discovery through digital technologies and underscores IBM’s use of AI-driven drug discovery to create biologics and small molecules with desired properties.

(PRESS RELEASE) INGELHEIM, Germany and ARMONK N.Y., United States, 28-Nov-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — In a strategic partnership, Boehringer Ingelheim, one of the world’s leading research-driven pharmaceutical companies with 130 years of experience, and IBM are joining forces to revolutionize the discovery of novel candidate antibodies for therapeutic development. Boehringer will leverage IBM’s cutting-edge foundation model technologies, integrating them with their proprietary data to enhance the antibody discovery process. This collaboration aims to expedite the identification of therapeutic antibodies for a range of diseases, including cancer, autoimmune, and infectious diseases, ultimately providing innovative treatments to patients in need.

“We are very excited to collaborate with the research team at IBM, who share our vision of making in silico biologic drug discovery a reality,” said Andrew Nixon, Global Head of Biotherapeutics Discovery at Boehringer Ingelheim. “I am confident that by joining forces with IBM scientists we will develop an unprecedented platform for accelerated antibody discovery which will enable Boehringer to develop and deliver new treatments for patients with high unmet need.”

The partnership will utilize IBM’s foundation model technologies to generate human antibody sequences, optimizing factors such as affinity, specificity, and developability. IBM’s AI-enhanced simulation will screen and refine antibody candidates for disease-specific targets. Boehringer Ingelheim will validate these candidates through laboratory experiments, with results continuously informing and improving the in-silico methods used in the discovery process.

By combining their expertise and resources, Boehringer Ingelheim and IBM aim to streamline antibody discovery, offering a faster and more efficient path to therapeutic solutions. This collaboration exemplifies Boehringer’s commitment to creating a digital ecosystem to accelerate drug discovery and transform patients’ lives. IBM continues to leverage generative AI and foundation models to enhance the discovery and development of biologics and small molecules.

IBM’s biomedical foundation model technologies draw upon diverse, publicly available datasets, incorporating protein-protein interactions and drug-target interactions to create pre-trained models. These models are further fine-tuned using specific proprietary data, resulting in the design of proteins and small molecules with desired properties. This partnership signifies a significant step forward in advancing antibody-based therapies and underscores the potential of AI-driven drug discovery in the pharmaceutical industry.

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About Boehringer Ingelheim
Boehringer Ingelheim is working on breakthrough therapies that transform lives, today and for generations to come. As a leading research-driven biopharmaceutical company, the company creates value through innovation in areas of high unmet medical need. Founded in 1885 and family-owned ever since, Boehringer Ingelheim takes a long-term, sustainable perspective. More than 53,000 employees serve over 130 markets in the two business units Human Pharma and Animal Health. Learn more at www.boehringer-ingelheim.com

About IBM
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. More than 4,000 government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely.

IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s legendary commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service.

Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

Press contacts:

IBM 
Katia Moskvitch
Head of Communications, IBM Research Europe
kam@zurich.ibm.com

Marie-Ann Maushart
Manager Communications, Brand and Social for DACH
maushart@de.ibm.com

Boehringer Ingelheim
Dr. Reinhard Malin
Boehringer Ingelheim Corporate Affairs
Innovation Unit Communications
press@boehringer-ingelheim.com

SOURCE: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH