Boehringer Ingelheim

Boehringer Ingelheim is a German pharmaceutical group headquartered in Ingelheim am Rhein. Founded in 1885 by Albert Boehringer, the company began as a small tartar manufacturer and later developed industrial processes for producing lactic acid and other chemical intermediates. Its early chemical expertise created the technical and financial base for a gradual move into pharmaceutical research and manufacturing. The company remains privately held and is controlled by the Boehringer, Liebrecht and von Baumbach families. This ownership structure distinguishes it from most large multinational drug companies, which are publicly traded or controlled by diversified corporate groups. Private ownership has enabled Boehringer Ingelheim to pursue long-term research, portfolio development and partnerships without the same quarterly-market pressures faced by listed peers, although the company still operates within highly regulated pharmaceutical markets. Its principal businesses are Human Pharma, Animal Health and biopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing. Human Pharma has concentrated on respiratory diseases, cardiometabolic conditions, immunology, oncology, diseases of the central nervous system and other areas of significant unmet medical need. Important medicines associated with the company include Spiriva for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Jardiance for type 2 diabetes and related cardiovascular and renal indications, Ofev for fibrotic lung diseases, Pradaxa for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation and other thromboembolic indications, and Giotrif/Gilotrif for selected lung cancers. Product availability, commercial rights and indications vary by country and over time. Animal Health is the group’s other major operating pillar. Its portfolio includes medicines, vaccines and parasiticides for companion animals, livestock and other veterinary uses. Products and brands associated with this business include Metacam, Vetmedin, Pexion, NexGard, Purevax and vaccines for dogs, cats and farm animals. The 2016 acquisition of Sanofi’s Merial animal-health business substantially expanded Boehringer Ingelheim’s veterinary scale and helped make the company one of the leading global animal-health groups. The company operates research, development and manufacturing activities across Europe, North America and Asia. Major research locations have included Biberach in Germany, Ridgefield in Connecticut, Vienna, Kobe and other international sites. Boehringer Ingelheim also works with universities, biotechnology companies, public-private research programs and technology companies. Its collaboration with Google Quantum AI, announced in 2021, explored quantum-computing applications for pharmaceutical research, including molecular simulations. Boehringer Ingelheim’s history also includes product-liability litigation, regulatory settlements and manufacturing-quality challenges. The company paid settlements relating to Pradaxa injury claims and alleged off-label marketing, while the closure of its Ben Venue manufacturing plant in Ohio followed serious inspection findings and an unsuccessful effort to restore sustainable production. These events form part of the company’s regulatory and operational history, but do not change its current status as an active international pharmaceutical business.

Boehringer Ingelheim traces its origins to 1885, when Albert Boehringer purchased a small tartar factory in Ingelheim am Rhein. The business initially manufactured tartaric acid for food-related applications, including baking powder and carbonated drinks. Experiments in citric-acid production led to an industrial process for lactic acid, which became an important commercial success during the company’s formative years. In 1893, the business adopted the name C. H. Boehringer Sohn in honor of Albert Boehringer’s father. Scientific research became increasingly important in the early twentieth century. In 1917, chemist Heinrich Otto Wieland established a research department at the company. Boehringer Ingelheim expanded beyond its original chemical activities in 1928 through the acquisition of Dr. Karl Thomae, a pharmaceutical company based near Stuttgart. That business was later rebuilt after the Second World War and became an important part of the group’s pharmaceutical manufacturing and research organization. The postwar period brought international expansion and diversification. Boehringer Ingelheim established its Animal Health division in 1955 after acquiring Pfizer’s veterinary program. It expanded into Greece in the 1960s and founded Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals in the United States in 1971. Biotechnology capabilities grew through research and manufacturing investments, including the establishment of a biotechnology center in Biberach in 1986. The company also supported the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology in Vienna, which opened in 1988 following a collaboration involving Genentech. In 1998, Boehringer Ingelheim KG and Dr. Karl Thomae GmbH were combined to form Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma KG. During the 2000s and early 2010s, the group pursued acquisitions and licensing transactions in respiratory medicine, oncology, immunology, biotechnology and animal health. It acquired STEAG microParts in 2004, expanded its U.S. veterinary business through assets from Pfizer’s Fort Dodge Animal Health operation in 2009, and acquired Japanese company SSP in 2010. A major strategic turning point came in 2016, when Boehringer Ingelheim and Sanofi agreed to exchange businesses. Boehringer Ingelheim transferred its consumer-health operation and cash, while acquiring Merial, Sanofi’s animal-health division. The transaction transformed the scale of Boehringer Ingelheim’s veterinary business. Some acquired or legacy assets were subsequently divested, including certain animal-health products and a U.S. pet-vaccine operation sold to Elanco. From 2018 onward, the company increased its emphasis on cancer immunotherapy, biological medicines, viral therapies and advanced research partnerships. It announced collaborations with OSE Immunotherapeutics and Topas Therapeutics, acquired ViraTherapeutics, and completed acquisitions involving Amal Therapeutics, Northern Biologics, Labor Dr. Merk & Kollegen, NBE Therapeutics and Abexxa Biologics. In parallel, it expanded animal-health capabilities through the acquisition of Global Stem cell Technology. Boehringer Ingelheim has also faced regulatory and legal challenges. A U.S. settlement in 2012 addressed allegations of off-label promotion, while Pradaxa litigation was resolved through a large settlement in 2014. Its Ben Venue facility in Ohio was voluntarily shut down after serious inspection findings and ultimately closed in 2013. Despite these controversies, the group remains active as a privately owned multinational pharmaceutical company with principal operations in human medicines, animal health and biopharmaceutical research.

• 2021

  Quantum-computing research collaboration announced

  [1]Boehringer Ingelheimen.wikipedia.org

  Boehringer Ingelheim and Google Quantum AI began exploring quantum-computing applications in drug research.

• 2016

  Merial acquired through Sanofi asset exchange

  [1]Boehringer Ingelheimen.wikipedia.org

  The company exchanged its consumer-health business and cash for Sanofi’s Merial animal-health division.

• 1998

  Pharmaceutical businesses consolidated

  [1]Boehringer Ingelheimen.wikipedia.org

  Boehringer Ingelheim KG and Dr. Karl Thomae GmbH were merged into Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma KG.

• 1971

  U.S. pharmaceutical subsidiary founded

  [1]Boehringer Ingelheimen.wikipedia.org

  Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals was established in Ridgefield, Connecticut, which became a major North American research location.

• 1955

  Animal Health division established

  [1]Boehringer Ingelheimen.wikipedia.org

  The company entered organized veterinary medicine through the acquisition of Pfizer’s veterinary program.

• 1917

  Research department established

  [1]Boehringer Ingelheimen.wikipedia.org

  Heinrich Otto Wieland established a formal research department within the company.

• 1895

  Industrial lactic-acid production

  [1]Boehringer Ingelheimen.wikipedia.org

  Boehringer Ingelheim began large-scale production of lactic acid after developing a commercially successful process.

• 1886

  Tartaric-acid production begins

  [1]Boehringer Ingelheimen.wikipedia.org

  The factory began producing tartaric acid for food-industry applications.

• 1885

  Company founded in Ingelheim

  [1]Boehringer Ingelheimen.wikipedia.org

  Albert Boehringer acquired a small tartar factory, establishing the business that became Boehringer Ingelheim.

A research-led, long-term privately owned pharmaceutical group serving human and animal health markets.

• Respiratory medicine

  Spiriva

  A tiotropium-based inhaled medicine used in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Spiriva became one of Boehringer Ingelheim’s best-known respiratory brands and represents the company’s longstanding focus on inhaled therapies.

• Cardiometabolic medicine

  Jardiance

  An empagliflozin-based medicine developed with Eli Lilly. It is used in type 2 diabetes and has gained additional cardiovascular and kidney-related indications in different markets.

• Respiratory medicine

  Ofev

  A nintedanib-based treatment used for selected fibrotic lung diseases. The brand reflects Boehringer Ingelheim’s investment in progressive pulmonary fibrosis and other serious respiratory conditions.

• Anticoagulant

  Pradaxa

  A dabigatran-based oral anticoagulant used in indications including prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in appropriate patients with atrial fibrillation, as well as treatment or prevention of venous thromboembolism in specified settings.

• Oncology medicine

  Giotrif/Gilotrif

  An afatinib-based targeted therapy used for selected patients with EGFR-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer. The brand is marketed under different names in different territories.

• Animal health

  NexGard

  Afoxolaner-based parasite-control products for dogs. The NexGard family forms part of Boehringer Ingelheim’s companion-animal portfolio and is used against specified flea and tick infestations.

• Animal health

  Vetmedin

  A pimobendan-based veterinary medicine used in selected canine cardiac conditions. It is one of the company’s established companion-animal therapeutic brands.

• Veterinary vaccines

  Purevax

  A family of feline vaccines designed to help protect cats against specified infectious diseases. It is part of Boehringer Ingelheim’s broader companion-animal vaccine business.

• 2014

  Pradaxa bleeding-injury litigation

  The company agreed to a $650 million settlement involving approximately 3,900 claimants in U.S. litigation alleging severe bleeding events associated with Pradaxa.

  Source

• 2012

  Off-label promotion settlement

  Boehringer Ingelheim paid $95 million to resolve allegations concerning off-label promotion of several medicines and claims involving federal healthcare-program reimbursement.

  Source

• 2011

  Ben Venue manufacturing and quality-control problems

  U.S. regulatory inspectors reported serious conditions at the company’s Ben Venue facility, including corrosion, mold and an unidentified liquid later described as urine. The plant was voluntarily shut down, partially restarted after substantial investment and ultimately closed in 2013.

  Source

• 1954

  Employment of convicted war criminal

  Historical accounts state that the company employed Fritz Fischer after his release from prison. Fischer had been convicted at the Nuremberg trials for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The company’s wartime history and involvement in chemical supply are subjects of historical scrutiny.

  Source

Read more

• 2021

  Launch quantum-computing research collaborationOther

  Background

  Pharmaceutical research involves computationally intensive problems such as molecular dynamics and drug-design simulations.

  Action taken

  Boehringer Ingelheim established a collaboration with Google Quantum AI and created internal capabilities to examine quantum-computing use cases.

  Aftermath

  The collaboration positioned the company among pharmaceutical firms investigating emerging computational technologies for research and development.

  Source

• 2017

  Increase emphasis on specialty medicines and innovationStrategy

  Background

  The company’s portfolio increasingly centered on respiratory disease, oncology, immunology, cardiometabolic disease and biotechnology.

  Action taken

  Boehringer Ingelheim expanded research partnerships, acquisitions and licensing activity in biological therapies, cancer immunotherapy and advanced drug platforms.

  Aftermath

  The group developed a broader pipeline in targeted medicines, viral therapies, immuno-oncology and biopharmaceutical research.

  Source

• 2016

  Exchange consumer health for Merial animal healthM&A

  Background

  Boehringer Ingelheim sought greater scale in animal health while Sanofi pursued a different portfolio balance.

  Action taken

  The company transferred its consumer-health division and paid additional cash to Sanofi, receiving Merial in return.

  Aftermath

  The transaction made animal health a much larger strategic pillar and contributed to Boehringer Ingelheim’s position among the leading global veterinary businesses.

  Source

• 2021

  Boehringer Ingelheim announces Google Quantum AI collaboration[1]Boehringer Ingelheimen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The companies began a research collaboration examining potential quantum-computing applications in pharmaceutical research and development.

• 2018

  Boehringer Ingelheim agrees to acquire ViraTherapeutics[1]Boehringer Ingelheimen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The company exercised an option to acquire ViraTherapeutics, a developer of oncolytic-virus therapies for cancer.

• 2016

  Boehringer Ingelheim and Sanofi announce an asset exchange[1]Boehringer Ingelheimen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Boehringer Ingelheim agreed to transfer its consumer-health business and cash to Sanofi in exchange for Sanofi’s Merial animal-health business. The transaction materially increased Boehringer Ingelheim’s scale in veterinary medicines.

1. 1Boehringer Ingelheimen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Boehringer Ingelheim official websiteboehringer-ingelheim.com
3. 3Boehringer acquires Abexxa Biologics to develop novel cancer therapiespharmaceutical-business-review.com
4. 4Boehringer Ingelheim Acquires Abexxa Biologics to Further Expand its Research Efforts in Cancer Immunology and Novel Immunotherapeutic Approachesfinanznachrichten.de
5. 5Boehringer Ingelheim Acquires Northern Biologics' Preclinical Cancer Antibody Pipeline, Expanding Immuno-oncology Portfoliofinanznachrichten.de
6. 6Boehringer Ingelheim appoints Vani Manja as Country Managing Director for IndiaÂbiospectrumindia.com
7. 7Boehringer-Ingelheim Launches Patient-Centric MyStudyWindow Powered by Careboxfinanznachrichten.de
8. 8Elsevier Launches Updated Drug-Drug Interaction Risk Calculator in Collaboration With Several Pharmaceutical Leadersfinanznachrichten.de
9. 9Genedata Expands Partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim to Digitalize Next Generation Cell Line Developmentprweb.com
10. 10ImaginAb Announces Extension Of Long-Standing Partnership With Boehringer Ingelheimprnewswire.com
11. 11WEHI collaborates with Boehringer Ingelheim to develop novel anti-cancer therapeuticsnews-medical.net