Boehringer Ingelheim and Ribo Partner To Develop Treatments For Liver Diseases

Suzhou Ribo Life Science Co., Ltd. and Ribocure AB collaborate with Boehringer Ingelheim to discover innovative treatments for steatohepatitis caused by nonalcoholic or metabolic dysfunction. The collaboration combines Ribo's expertise in the discovery and clinical development of small interfering RNA treatments with Boehringer's dedication to improving the lives of individuals suffering from cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic disorders.

More than 440 million people worldwide are estimated to live with NASH, an inflammatory liver disease that is caused by accumulation of fat in the liver. Over time, NASH causes scar tissue formation, which in many cases leads to liver cirrhosis and related serious complications, including liver failure or liver cancer. Currently there are no approved medicines for NASH and there is an urgent need for new effective treatment options that can prevent NASH progression and maintain and restore liver function, as per pharmabiz

The cutting-edge RIBO-GalSTAR platform from Ribo enables the creation of RNAi therapies that specifically target disease-causing genes in hepatocytes by silencing their messenger RNAs (mRNAs). This technique has the potential to treat diseases by addressing pharmacological targets that were previously inaccessible.

“We look forward to working with the scientists from Ribo to develop new breakthrough medicines for patients with NASH,” said Søren Tullin, Ph.D., senior vice president and global head of cardiometabolic diseases research, Boehringer Ingelheim. “This new partnership is part of our commitment to collaborate with peers worldwide to address the interconnected nature of CRM diseases. Our goal is to develop the next wave of innovative medicines that will lead to a holistic health gain for patients.”

Zicai Liang, CEO of Ribo Life Sciences said, “This collaboration represents a strong endorsement of the many years of investment and scientific discovery built into Ribo’s platform. We are very pleased about the opportunity to work with Boehringer Ingelheim to develop new solutions for people living with NASH.”