Boehringer Ingelheim is adding $135 million to the expanding pool of Big Pharma corporate venture cash with its new Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund global. The fund formation aligns the German family-owned pharmaceutical with its peers, such as Novartis, Pfizer, and Novo, all of which have their own active venture arms for years. Making bets outside the realm of partnership has become increasingly important pharma giants as they seek to diversify their access to innovative products developed outside their own internal R&D programs.

 

“We have extensive drug discovery expertise and can take advantage of knowledge and experience available within our global organization, but we are aware that there is an entire landscape of novel therapeutic ideas and potentially breakthrough technologies that need to be supported for future patients' benefit,” says Andreas Barner, BI's chief executive.

 

The fund will target new therapies such as stem cells and RNA silencing, as well as “new generation” vaccines, protein or antibody technologies, molecular targets and “first-in-class lead compounds,” the company says. Disease-related biomarkers might also garner funding, it says.

 

The fund will be led by BI veteran and former global research head Michel Pairet, who will guide initial investments of up to $2.7 million in early stage ventures. The fund expects to invest up to $13.5 million to $20.2 million per venture in total.