Boehringer Ingelheim is expanding its footprint in ophthalmology through a major collaboration with Re-Vana Therapeutics, aimed at advancing long-acting drug delivery solutions for eye diseases. The agreement, potentially worth over $1 billion in upfront and milestone payments for three initial targets, focuses on Re-Vana’s proprietary extended-release ocular delivery technology.
Re-Vana’s platform is designed to sustain drug release within the eye for six to 12 months, reducing the need for frequent injections that are a significant burden for ophthalmic patients. This could improve treatment adherence and outcomes, particularly in chronic retinal diseases.
Though a relatively new player in the eye health space, Boehringer Ingelheim has been making swift advances. The company has previously licensed a bispecific antibody from Surrozen and entered a partnership with RetinAI targeting geographic atrophy. It currently has four assets in phase 2 trials within its ophthalmology pipeline.
Under the new agreement, Boehringer plans to incorporate up to three new extended-release programs per year, with Re-Vana supporting feasibility and early development. Boehringer will have exclusive rights to these programs for specified targets and will lead clinical development and commercialization.
“Reducing the frequency of treatments can ease the burden on patients, potentially improving compliance and outcomes,” Boehringer noted in its official statement on July 28. “By combining our extended-release platform with Boehringer Ingelheim’s strong R&D capabilities and expanding eye health pipeline, we hope to deliver a new generation of long-acting ophthalmic therapies,” said Michael O’Rourke, CEO of Re-Vana Therapeutics. “We’re excited to collaborate with Re-Vana to push the boundaries of what’s possible in eye care,” added Dr. Nedim Pipic, Global Head of Mental Health, Eye Health, and Emerging Areas at Boehringer. “Our joint goal is to help patients preserve vision with fewer injections.”
Boehringer’s current ophthalmology pipeline includes a sema3A antibody for diabetic retinopathy and an antibody fragment targeting geographic atrophy. In a recent interview, Dr. Lykke Hinsch Gylvin, Boehringer’s Chief Medical Officer, described the company’s ophthalmology work as a new but rapidly evolving area, already gaining attention among clinical experts.