3D Printing Accelerates New Drug Development: Triastek and Boehringer Ingelheim China Announce Strategic Collaboration
In March 2023, Nanjing Triastek Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Triastek”) and Boehringer Ingelheim China jointly signed a cooperation agreement. This collaboration aims to explore the application of 3D printing technology in accelerating the development of drug formulations for new chemical entities (NCEs).
This collaboration is led by Boehringer Ingelheim China’s Drug Development Department, with both parties focusing on rapid formulation development for new drug molecules. Triastek leverages its MED 3D printing technology to design the structural architecture of drug formulations, develop multiple prototype formulations, and explore dose design and release profiles of novel compound molecules, aiming to enhance the speed and success rate of new drug development.
It is reported that this collaboration marks the first formal partnership between Triastek and Boehringer Ingelheim. In 2021, Triastek was selected for Boehringer Ingelheim’s global opnMe program to apply its Melt Extrusion Deposition (MED) technology in the developability studies of poorly soluble drugs, achieving in vitro solubilization and enhancing in vivo bioavailability in animal models. The project has been successfully completed.
Triastek positions itself as a platform company specializing in 3D-printed pharmaceutical technologies. Its proprietary MED 3D printing technology is a universal patented platform for solid dosage forms, applicable not only to the development of small-molecule drugs but also potentially enabling oral delivery of large-molecule therapeutics. The technology encompasses digital design and development of drug dosage forms as well as continuous manufacturing, providing partners with end-to-end technical solutions spanning drug research, development, and production, along with comprehensive product patent protection strategies.
Dr. Jun Lu, Head of Drug Development China, Boehringer Ingelheimstated, “We are delighted to partner with Triastek to jointly explore innovative approaches and application possibilities of 3D printing technology in accelerating new drug development. We look forward to this collaboration demonstrating the value of 3D printing in new drug R&D, bolstering confidence for both parties, and deepening our cooperation to empower Boehringer Ingelheim China’s—and indeed global—drug development efforts, ultimately benefiting patients.”
Dr. Senping Cheng, Founder and CEO of TriastekIt stated: “TriItera and Boehringer Ingelheim have officially partnered to explore the value of MED 3D printing technology in new drug development, which will promote the application of emerging technologies in the pharmaceutical industry, enhance the efficiency of new drug product development, and ensure that clinically valuable drugs are successfully developed and delivered to patients at the earliest possible time.”
Triastek, established in July 2015, is a pioneer in the field of 3D-printed pharmaceuticals. The company is dedicated to building a novel 3D-printed drug technology platform, having developed proprietary technologies covering the entire value chain from dosage form design and digital development to continuous manufacturing. Triastek is China’s only specialized company focused on 3D-printed pharmaceuticals and the only Chinese pharmaceutical enterprise selected for the U.S. FDA’s Emerging Technology Program. Triastek’s vision is to become the world’s most influential intelligent pharmaceutical company.
Triastek is positioned as a 3D-printed drug technology platform company, employing a business model that combines independently developed products with co-developed products. The company boasts a robust pipeline of 3D-printed products; its first product, T19, as well as its second and third products, T20 and T21, have all received Investigational New Drug (IND) approval from the U.S. FDA. Additionally, T19 has obtained IND approval from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).
San Die Ji has completed six rounds of financing, with investors including Tasly Group, Morningside Venture Capital, Volcanic Stone Investment, Daotong Investment, Yunqi Capital, Matrix Partners China, CPE Yuanfeng, Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Fund, and QinZhi Capital, among other renowned institutions.
Boehringer Ingelheim is one of the world’s leading biopharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it employs more than 52,000 people worldwide. At the core of our work is the development of new and better medicines for humans and animals. Boehringer Ingelheim’s China headquarters is located in Shanghai, with over 3,800 employees across the country. Its core businesses include human pharmaceuticals, animal health, and biopharmaceutical contract manufacturing. In recent years, Boehringer Ingelheim has achieved significant growth in China and has been certified as a “Top Employer in China” for ten consecutive years. As one of Boehringer Ingelheim’s most important strategic markets, China sees its patients’ needs integrated into the company’s global R&D strategy. The company is committed to bringing more high-quality innovative products to Chinese patients earlier, supporting the high-quality development of China’s healthcare industry, and comprehensively improving the health of both humans and animals.