1988 - 2011: Value through Innovation
Following the death of Hubertus Liebrecht (1991), the owning family made some fundamental decisions regarding the company’s alignment. This was in response to changing global healthcare standards and the increasing cost of healthcare, and was designed to maintain the company’s leading position as a research-based pharmaceutical company.
The Board of Managing Directors is composed of members who are not part of the owning families. Members of the Boehringer and von Baumbach families continue to sit on the Shareholders’ Committee, which is similar to a supervisory board in public companies.
R&D activities are restructured so that the available resources can be utilised more effectively and innovative products launched more quickly.
The corporate vision “Value through Innovation” is promoted and becomes firmly rooted in the company. This vision defines the targets and framework for the future of the company and represents the global leitmotif and orientation framework. Boehringer Ingelheim presented this vision for the first time in February 1994 at an international management conference held by the company.
Since then, this vision has spread throughout the Group - complete with launch events for each individual company.
The motto “Value through Innovation” has characterised this spirit of cooperation and will continue to inspire employees in the future too. Strengths are expanded and a distinctive personality is forged.
The principles of "Vision & Leadership" have since been integrated in "Lead & Learn". They show how value can be created through innovation, how the employees at Boehringer Ingelheim can tackle future challenges and work as a team.
Since this realignment, the company has enjoyed a number of successes in many different areas:
- A range of important new products have been launched.
- Boehringer Ingelheim has become one of the most successful foreign companies operating in the USA and Japan.
- R&D has been transformed thanks to groundbreaking new technology, such as high-throughput and ultra-high-throughput screening.
- The acquisition of the injectables manufacturer, Ben Venue Laboratories (USA), has given the hospital segment a major boost.
- New marketing alliances have been formed with leading companies, such as Genentech, Abbott Laboratories, Glaxo Wellcome, Pfizer and Eli Lilly.
- Acquisition of the micro-technology company STEAG microParts GmbH from STEAG AG, Essen (2004). The main product is the Respimat® Soft Inhaler.
- Expansion of the Animal Health division with the acquisition of segments of the animal health operations of Fort Dodge (Pfizer / Wyeth) in 2009.
From 1992 until the end of 2000, Erich von Baumbach, son-in-law of Albert Boehringer, is Chairman of the Shareholders’ Committee, which represents the owning families Boehringer and von Baumbach.
From 2001 until the end of 2006, this position is occupied by Dr Heribert Johann after he stepped down from his position as spokesman for Boehringer Ingelheim’s Board of Managing Directors.
In January 2007, he was succeeded by Christian Boehringer, who has been part of the Shareholders' Committee since 2001.
Milestones during this period
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1989: Launch of Alveofact®
1989 sees the launch of Alveofact®, a surfactant substitute for respiratory distress syndrome in newborns.
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1991: Hubertus Liebrecht dies
Hubertus Liebrecht dies on 27 July.
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1992: Erich von Baumbach appointed Chairman of the Shareholders’ Committee
On 1 January, Erich von Baumbach, the son-in-law of Albert Boehringer jr., is appointed Chairman of the Shareholders’ Committee. At the same time, Heribert Johann is appointed spokesman for the Board of Managing Directors. This means that for the first time in the company’s history, no members of the owning family are in charge of operational business.
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1993: German pharmaceutical business under common management
The German pharmaceutical business with its two sites – one in Ingelheim and one in Biberach – is placed under common management. In future, research activities will be centred in Biberach, while production – though not biopharmaceutical production – will take place in Ingelheim.
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1993: Institute for Molecular Pathology (IMP) solely owned by Boehringer Ingelheim
The Institute for Molecular Pathology (IMP) in Vienna is placed under the sole ownership of Boehringer Ingelheim.
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1995: Launch of Combivent®
1995 sees the launch of Combivent®, which contains the active substances ipratropium bromide and salbutamol and is used in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
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1995: R&D expenditure exceeds DM 1 billion
For the first time in the company’s history, global R&D expenditure exceeds DM 1 billion (approximately 511 million euro).
The company employs a total of 23,277 people. -
1996: Launch of Alna® / Flomax®
1996 sees the launch of Alna® / Flomax®, which is used in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.
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1996: Launch of Mobec®
The antirheumatic drug Mobec® is launched.
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1997: Launch of Viramune®
1997 sees the launch of Viramune®, which is designed to reduce the risk of transferring HI viruses in pregnant women to their unborn children.
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1997: Launch of Sifrol®
1997 sees the launch of Sifrol®, a product used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. From 2006, Sifrol® also becomes available for the indication of RLS (restless leg syndrome).
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1997: Launch of new company logo
A new corporate design is launched worldwide. The company logo, which still displays a stylised motif of the imperial palace of Ingelheim, is modernised.
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1998: Launch of Aggrenox®
1998 sees the launch of Aggrenox®, a product used in the treatment of strokes.
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1998: Boehringer Ingelheim KG and Dr. Karl Thomae GmbH merge to form Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma KG
Boehringer Ingelheim KG and Dr. Karl Thomae GmbH merge to form Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma KG.
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1998: Sale of Boehringer Ingelheim Backmittel GmbH
Boehringer Ingelheim Backmittel GmbH is sold.
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1999: Launch of Micardis®
1999 sees the launch of Micardis®, a product used in the treatment of hypertension.
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1999: Founding of IMBA (Institute for Molecular Biotechnology)
The IMBA is founded on the basis of a joint initiative of Boehringer Ingelheim and the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna.
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2000: Launch of Metalyse®
2000 sees the launch of Metalyse®, a drug used in the treatment of heart attacks.
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2000: Inauguration of Boehringer Ingelheim Centre
The Boehringer Ingelheim Centre, the new international corporate headquarters, sets new standards in Ingelheim. It symbolises the company’s move into the 21st century.
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2002: Launch of Spiriva®
The COPD product Spiriva® is launched.
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2002: Inauguration of new active ingredient plant in Ingelheim
The active ingredient plant for producing new and innovative active ingredients (investment: EUR 180 million) is inaugurated.
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2003: Inauguration of new biopharmaceutical active ingredient plant in Biberach
Boehringer Ingelheim invested more than EUR 255 million in the expansion of its biopharmaceutical active ingredient production facilities in Biberach, the corporation's largest single investment to date.
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2004: Acquisition of microParts
Boehringer Ingelheim acquires the micro-technology company STEAG microparts GmbH from STEAG AG Essen, which since then has been based in Dortmund under the name Boehringer Ingelheim microParts GmbH.
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2005: Launch of Aptivus®
2005 sees the launch of the HIV drug Aptivus®.
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2006: Award for family-friendly commitment
Boehringer Ingelheim receives an award for its family-friendly commitment with the "berufundfamilie" ("work and family") certificate.
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2007: Christian Boehringer appointed Chairman of Shareholders’ Committee
Christian Boehringer is appointed Chairman of the Shareholders’ Committee. As a result, management of the supreme decision-making committee is once again, for the first time in 16 years, in the hands of an immediate descendent of the company’s founder.
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2007: Laying of foundation stone for state-of-the-art atomisation factory in Dortmund
The company invests EUR 70 million in a state-of-the-art atomisation factory to expand its production capacity for the Respimat® Soft Inhaler.
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2007: SCIENCE votes Boehringer Ingelheim as No. 1 employer
According to a survey conducted by the respected specialist periodical Science, Boehringer Ingelheim is No.1 employer of 2007 in the pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceuticals sector.
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2008: Launch of Pradaxa®
In March 2008, Pradaxa®, which is used in the prevention of thromboses and pulmonary embolisms following knee and hip-joint replacement operations, receives Europe-wide approval.
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2008: Inauguration of LogiPack centre in Ingelheim
At the Ingelheim site, EUR 49 million was invested in a new packaging centre, the LogiPack centre. With 14 packaging lines, this facility has the capacity to produce up to 250 million medicine packages each year.
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2009: Hubertus von Baumbach joins company's Board of Managing Directors
Hubertus von Baumbach joins the company's Board of Managing Directors and is responsible for the Finance and Animal Health divisions. This means that for the first time since the death of Hubertus Liebrecht in 1991, a member of the owning family, sitting on the company's Board of Managing Directors, is responsible for Boehringer Ingelheim’s operational business.
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2009: Inauguration of PUROS
On 6 May, Boehringer Ingelheim inaugurates a new production site (PUROS) designed to produce an innovative anticoagulant for patients all over the world. With an overall budget of EUR 64 million, the expansion of the building is one of the biggest single investments ever made by this research-based pharmaceuticals company at its head office in the Rhine-Hessian region. In a process involving three complex steps, this facility will produce active agent pellets for the new product. This investment also creates 60 new jobs.
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2010: 125th anniversary
Boehringer Ingelheim celebrates its 125th anniversary.
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2011: PRADAXA® receives approval for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation and Trajenta® (linagliptin) receives approval for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in Europe
August 4, 2011 - Breakthrough therapy PRADAXA® (dabigatran etexilate) first drug in 50 years to gain approval for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation in EU.
August 25, 2011: Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) received Marketing Authorisation from the European Commission for Trajenta® (linagliptin) for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes in Europe.
