Covant Therapeutics, a pioneering covalent drug discovery company, has recently inked an exclusive research collaboration and licensing agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim to spearhead the development of a novel small molecule immunotherapy targeting ADAR1. This ground-breaking venture has the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment and greatly improve the lives of patients around the world.
Covant is revolutionizing drug discovery for complex targets like ADAR1 with its cutting-edge platform. Combining high-throughput chemoproteomics-based screening in the native setting with structural proteomics, Covant is rapidly discovering novel, high-value first-in-class and best-in-class therapeutics, transforming drug discovery.
The Covant-Boehringer Ingelheim collaboration is pioneering a new ADAR1 inhibitor which, when combined with existing immunotherapies, has the potential to unlock a whole new world of cancer treatment.
By inhibiting ADAR1, the inhibitor could transform so-called “cold” tumors into “hot” ones, enabling the presence of greater numbers of immune cells in the tumor micro-environment; and thus leading to improved efficacy of existing immunotherapies and potentially saving the lives of many more cancer patients.
At Boehringer Ingelheim, we are committed to transforming the lives of cancer patients. That’s why we are excited to be partnering with Covant’s world-class scientific team and powerful platform to develop next-generation immunotherapies targeting ADAR1, an immuno-oncology target with tremendous therapeutic potential. Our ultimate goal is to cure a range of cancers and bring hope to those affected.
Covant is thrilled to join forces with Boehringer Ingelheim, a leader in oncology and immuno-oncology, to develop a program targeting ADAR1, a notoriously difficult immuno-oncology target. Dr. Ivan Cornella, Covant’s Chief Scientific Officer, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, emphasizing that their collaboration is a testament to the quality of the Covant team and their approach.
Covant has just sealed an exciting deal with the potential to earn up to $471 million in milestone payments and tiered royalties on global sales. As part of the agreement, Covant will be responsible for discovering small molecule inhibitors of ADAR1, and will receive an upfront payment of $10 million as a show of faith. This could be the start of an incredibly lucrative journey for Covant and its partners.
About Covant Therapeutics
Covant Therapeutics, a Boston-based covalent drug discovery company incubated by Roivant Sciences (NASDAQ: ROIV), is revolutionizing the pharmaceutical industry with its cutting-edge approach to uncovering novel therapeutics.
Using covalency to imprint and regulate proteins, the company applies its expertise in chemistry, quantitative proteomics, translational sciences, and deep learning to discover these life-changing therapeutics.