Boehringer Ingelheim, Tessellate Bio partner on €500m cancer research deal

Boehringer Ingelheim and Tessellate Bio have entered a partnership worth over €500 million to develop oral precision medicines targeting cancers that rely on the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) mechanism, which is present in approximately 10-15% of all cancers and associated with poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Tessellate Bio has created small molecule inhibitors against an undisclosed target crucial for the survival of ALT-positive tumor cells; preclinical data suggest this approach induces DNA damage and selective tumor cell death without harming healthy cells. Tessellate will receive an upfront license fee, research funding, milestone payments, and additional success-based payments under the deal. The collaboration marks Tessellate’s first pharmaceutical partnership and aligns with Boehringer’s ongoing strategy to expand its oncology portfolio through innovative synthetic lethality approaches. Both companies highlighted their commitment to advancing novel targeted cancer therapies for hard-to-treat tumors. The partnership builds upon previous R&D efforts and reflects Boehringer’s broader investment in oncology research and development.