Evox Therapeutics has entered into a research collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim to investigate exosome-mediated delivery of RNAs with high medical relevance to targets for specific disease areas of focus to Boehringer Ingelheim. The collaboration is part of Boehringer Ingelheim's Research Beyond Borders (RBB) initiative that explores emerging science and technologies for and beyond its core therapeutic areas to create new opportunities in disease indications of high medical need.
Exosomes are small, cell-derived vesicles. Evox combines its exosome engineering platform with highly specific targeting technology, to enable the development of natural delivery nanoparticles for the treatment of severe diseases.
Under the terms of the agreement, Evox and Boehringer Ingelheim will perform comprehensive in vitro and in vivo research with Evox's exosome technology in return for undisclosed financial considerations. This research may help to pave the way for approaching therapeutic concepts in diseases with high medical need that are currently not amenable to therapeutic intervention. Upon completion of these studies, Boehringer Ingelheim will have the option to negotiate a license agreement to further develop RNA drug candidates using Evox's exosome-mediated delivery technology.
"Evox is pleased to add Boehringer Ingelheim to its growing list of collaborators. The use of exosomes as drug delivery vehicles provide significant advantages over other delivery methods as they can carry therapeutic molecules to difficult-to-reach target tissues,” Commenting on the announcement, Dr. Antonin de Fougerolles, Chief Executive Officer of Evox said. “We look forward to working with Boehringer Ingelheim to evaluate the potential of exosomes to deliver drugs to sites that are currently inaccessible by other means."