Our six major Research Areas

Our key research areas

• CardioMetabolic Diseases

  Many years of experience in this therapeutic area have allowed us to help millions of patients affected by potentially life-threatening cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Our research and development has resulted in important achievements in recent years, especially in thromboembolic diseases and type 2 diabetes.

  Our current research efforts in the field of cardiovascular and chronic kidney diseases are designed to develop treatments that will influence the course of these life-threatening diseases. In metabolic diseases, we focus on new strategies for the treatment of diabetes, lipid disorders/atherosclerosis, and obesity. Together with the treatment of hypertension, these therapies complement each other to reduce the risk of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity.

  Around 300 scientists work in our fully integrated drug discovery centre of excellence for CardioMetabolic research at sites in Biberach, Germany and Ridgefield, CT, USA. With extensive capabilities in both small molecules and biotherapeutics, they are working with many academic and corporate partners to discover new treatments to address continually evolving unmet medical needs.

  Research focus on: 

  • Type 2 diabetes
    
  • Obesity
  • Atherosclerosis/dyslipidaemia
  • Chronic kidney disease

  Drug discovery in metabolic diseases is conducted at our research &  development site in Biberach (Germany) and Ridgefield, CT. (USA)

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  • Diabetes
  • Thromboembolic Diseases
• Central Nervous System Diseases

  Progressive degeneration of the nerve cells is typical for all chronic neurological diseases. Our scientists are investigating ways of identifying and developing new treatments which can intervene in the process. The aim is to provide patients and doctors with improved treatments to address the symptoms of these diseases, and to find ways of inhibiting the basic pathological processes, which are responsible for disease progression.

  In addition, we are actively involved in research into novel analgesics, which are believed to be effective in the prevention and treatment of pain.

  Most recently, we extended our research efforts into psychiatric diseases.

  More than 200 scientists work at our fully integrated CNS drug discovery centre in Biberach, Germany. Using their own capabilities in both small molecules and biotherapeutics, and working together with their academic and corporate partners, their focus is on disease pathophysiology and genetics to drive pathway and target selection.

  Research focus on:

  • Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases
    
  • Chronic (nociceptive and neuropathic) pain
  • Psychiatric indications – new opportunities i.e. cognitive impairment and negative symptoms associated with schizophrenia

  Drug discovery in neurological diseases is conducted at our research & development site in Biberach (Germany).

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  • Parkinson's Disease
  • Restless Legs Syndrome
• Immunology and Inflammation

  Autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, are chronic, lifelong and have significant impact on patients’ lives. Although some effective therapies are available, there remains a significant unmet medical need as many patients are unresponsive to treatment or lose therapeutic benefit over time.

  Boehringer Ingelheim’s research in multiple sclerosis is focused on identifying treatments that protect patients from the progressive disability that results from this chronic disease.

  Our fully integrated research centre of 200 scientists in Ridgefield, CT, USA has extensive capabilities in small molecule and biotherapeutic drug discovery, and partners with both academic and biotechnology partners in their efforts to discover new therapeutic options to treat these chronic degenerative diseases.

  Research focus on:                

  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Multiple sclerosis

  Drug discovery in immunology is conducted at our research & development site in Ridgefield (USA).

• Infectious Diseases

  The introduction of new treatments for infectious diseases has accelerated in recent decades. The engines for this growth have been both technological – resulting in the discovery of new pathogens associated with human diseases, and understanding of how to target these pathogens with highly specific agents that have good tolerability as well as efficacy. The result has been a number of novel drugs for persistent infections for which no effective therapy had previously existed. Nevertheless, the emergence and transmission of drug-resistant pathogens creates a continuing demand for new agents with different cross-resistance profiles.

  Around 140 scientists work at our fully integrated drug discovery centre for infectious disease research in Laval, Canada. Their expertise in small molecule and biotherapeutic drug discovery, together with their academic and corporate partners, is paving the way for new treatments to address the continually evolving unmet need presented by infectious diseases

  Boehringer Ingelheim's research and development strives to find medical solutions for acute and chronic viral diseases, such as:

  • human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
  • hepatitis C virus (HCV)

  Drug discovery in infectious diseases is conducted at our research site in Laval (Canada).

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  • HIV/AIDS
• Oncology

  Opportunities for effective drug discovery in oncology have never been better. Blueprints of the genetic and biochemical workings of cancer cells allow scientists in our laboratories to focus on promising targets for potential new therapeutic options. The impact of modern cancer genetics, biochemistry and biology is beginning to change the practice of medicine in oncology, with both biopharmaceuticals and small-molecules providing a growing repertoire of therapies.

  Our fully integrated drug discovery centre in Vienna, Austria has more than 250 scientists with extensive capabilities in both small molecule and biotherapeutic discovery. We also have multiple collaborations with both academic partners and biotechnology companies to help in our search for new treatments.

  Research focus on:                        

  • Growth/survival signalling
    
  • Tumour angiogenesis
  • Stem cell pathways
  • Cancer metabolism & epigenetic
  • Immune effector mechanisms

  Drug discovery in oncology is conducted at our research site in Vienna (Austria).

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  • Oncology
• Respiratory Diseases

  Boehringer Ingelheim is one of the leading pharmaceutical companies worldwide in the treatment of respiratory diseases.

  More than 200 scientists in our fully integrated drug discovery centre for respiratory research in Biberach, Germany are investigating both small molecules and biotherapeutics for the treatment of respiratory diseases. Together with their academic and biotechnology partners, their aim is to offer patients and doctors improved therapies with high efficacy, few side effects and convenient dosage forms and regimens.

  Research focus on:    

  • Inflammatory cascades in asthma and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
  • Airway re-modelling e.g. mucus de-regulation
    
  • Exacerbation prevention
  • Fibrosis

  Drug discovery in respiratory diseases is conducted at our research & development site in Biberach (Germany).

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  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)