Boehringer Ingelheim launches €100M Global Venture Fund

Investment opportunity

Boehringer Ingelheim has announced the launch of a €100 million corporate venture capital fund, the Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund (BIVF) to invest in biotech and start-up companies developing medical treatments based on fields including stem cells, RNA silencing, next generation vaccines, protein or antibody technologies, new molecular targets and/or first-in-class lead compounds.

“Our investments will extend beyond the current therapeutic area focus of Boehringer Ingelheim and our existing therapeutic approaches and technologies,” said Andreas Barner, Chairman.

“We have extensive drug discovery expertise and can take advantage of knowledge and experience available within our global organisation, but we are aware that there is an entire landscape of novel therapeutic ideas and potentially breakthrough technologies that need to be supported for future patients’ benefit.”

Boehringer Ingelheim has initially committed to invest a total fund volume of €100 million, with the first investments being made in 2010.

Investment opportunities are sought on a worldwide basis. “By focusing on novel therapeutic concepts and potentially breakthrough technologies, our Venture Fund represents a long-term investment in external innovation,” said Michel Pairet, Head of BIVF. “Our philosophy is to provide both our expertise and funding to drive innovative ideas from early stages into clinical testing.”

Innovators interested in contacting the BI Venture Fund are invited to visit: http://www.boehringer-ingelheim-venture.com.