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May 13th, 2009
Boehringer Ingelheim and DeveloGen AG announce
agreement in the field of diabetes, obesity, and the
metabolic syndrome
Goettingen and Ingelheim, Germany — May 13th, 2009:
Boehringer
Ingelheim and DeveloGen AG, today announced the signing of an asset sale
and purchase and collaboration agreement in the field of diabetes, obesity,
the metabolic syndrome, and other insulin resistance associated disorders.
Under the terms of the agreement, DeveloGen will receive an upfront
payment of € 7 million, but has the opportunity to earn additional deferred
payments such as potential milestone payments of up to € 237 million as
well as tiered sales performance payments. The milestone payments will be
due upon achievement of certain preclinical and clinical as well as
regulatory and commercial events. Further milestone payments may be
achieved with additional compounds and/or additional approved indications.
DeveloGen will also receive research payments to support further discovery
and development efforts.
Dr. Cord Dohrmann, Chief Executive Officer of DeveloGen commented:
"Using a unique functional genomics approach, DeveloGen has identified
and validated a relevant target directly addressing insulin resistance. Initial
compounds, that have been discovered and optimized by DeveloGen, have
proven to be effective in preclinical models of type 2 diabetes and obesity,
improving carbohydrate and lipid metabolism while reducing weight gain
and preserving beta cell function." Dr. Dohrmann continued: "Boehringer
Ingelheim has built an impressive late stage pipeline of innovative
metabolic disease programs. We are convinced that the leadership by
Boehringer Ingelheim will provide optimal support for further development
of this program."
Prof. Andreas Barner, Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors and
Head of Corporate Board Division Pharma Research, Development and
Medicine, added, "The steadily increasing prevalence of diabetes can only
be addressed by new and improved therapies involving novel mechanisms
with improved safety and efficacy. Boehringer Ingelheim is looking forward
to collaborate with DeveloGen on this program which will complement and
expand Boehringer Ingelheim´s current diabetes pipeline beyond our two
late stage development compounds targeting DPP-4 and SGLT-2. We will
continue to use our expertise in metabolic research, drug development and
commercialization to make advances for patients suffering from these
serious lifelong diseases."
About Diabetes
Diabetes is a global epidemic with devastating human, social and economic
consequences. In 2007 it was estimated that 246 million people worldwide
have diabetes, representing roughly 6% of the adult population. The number
is expected to reach 380 million by 2025, representing over 7% of the adult
population. Diabetes/obesity is the fastest growing disease in the U.S.,
afflicting one in four Americans and accounting for well over 30% of the
Medicare budget. Global pharmaceutical sales for diabetes drugs has grown
over the last ten years to over US$ 17 billion in 2005. Overall, anti-diabetic
drugs sales are expected to grow to over US$ 22 billion by 2012.
About DeveloGen
DeveloGen AG is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery
and development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of metabolic and
endocrine diseases. The Company has a highly innovative and deep
preclinical discovery pipeline addressing the key drivers in the development
of diabetes and obesity such as insulin resistance and loss of insulin-
producing beta cells. This pipeline includes two programs at advanced
stages of lead optimization, a small molecule inhibitor program based on a
novel and proprietary target to address insulin resistance (type 2 diabetes)
and a growth factor targeting beta-cell regeneration (type 1 and type 2
diabetes). In addition, the Company is developing DG3173 (Somatoprim), a
potentially best-in-class somatostatin analogue for the treatment of
acromegaly, carcinoid tumors and diabetic retinopathy, which has recently
completed a Phase 1 clinical trial. DeveloGen is based in Goettingen,
Germany. For more information on DeveloGen, please visit
www.develogen.com.
About Boehringer Ingelheim
About Boehringer Ingelheim
The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world´s 20 leading
pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it
operates globally with 138 affiliates in 47 countries and 41,300 employees.
Since it was founded in 1885, the independent, family-owned company has
been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing
novel products of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.
In 2008, Boehringer Ingelheim posted net sales of 11.6 billion euro while
spending one fifth of net sales in its largest business segment Prescription
Medicines on research and development.
For more information please visit www.boehringer-ingelheim.com.
Contact:
Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH
Julia Meyer-Kleinmann
Head Science & Technology Communications
Binger Str. 173
55216 Ingelheim/Germany
Phone: + 49-6132—77 8271
Fax:+ 49-6132—72 6601
press@boehringer-ingelheim.com
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DeveloGen AG
Carsten Dehning
Chief Financial Officer
Marie-Curie-Str. 7
37079 Goettingen, Germany
Tel: +49 551 50558 514
Fax: +49 551 50558 586
www.develogen.com
Fax: +49 551 50558 586
dehning@develogen.com
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