Boehringer Ingelheim establishes a research alliance with the University of Toronto, the Toronto-based University Health Network and the Mount Sinai Hospital

Boehringer Ingelheim announced today that it has established a research alliance with the University of Toronto through the Toronto Recombinant Antibody Centre (TRAC), together with Toronto-based University Health Network and Mount Sinai Hospital to characterize new therapeutic targets in the field of ubiquitin biology. Alterations of the ubiquitin system are linked to many common diseases such as cancer, diabetes, inflammation and several central nervous system disorders. Boehringer Ingelheim scientists will work closely with leading scientists in the Toronto academic community to explore different therapeutic concepts within the ubiquitin system, a highly attractive and potentially rich area of unprecedented drug targets.

Under the terms of the agreement the research capabilities of the three research institutes and Boehringer Ingelheim will be brought together to provide novel starting points for drug discovery in a multi-year research program focusing on the development and characterization of novel ubiquitin binding variants developed at the TRAC. Further details of the agreement are not disclosed.

“We are very pleased to work closely in a joint research program with the distinguished scientists at the University of Toronto, the University Health Network and the Mount Sinai Hospital in this emerging field of breakthrough therapeutics” said Dr Michel Pairet, Senior Corporate Vice President of Research and Non-clinical Development at Boehringer Ingelheim. He added, “We believe that this research program, headed by Sachdev Sidhu at the University of Toronto, will further strengthen our strong commitment in initiating new drug discovery programmes in areas of high unmet medical need.”