Boehringer Ingelheim China R&D Center Inaugurated, Doubling Down on Early-Stage Clinical Development of New Drugs and Deepening External Innovation Partnerships

On October 12, 2026, Boehringer Ingelheim announced the official inauguration of its new China R&D Center in Zhangjiang, Shanghai, marking a new phase in the company's research and development footprint in China. Building on the R&D foundation and capabilities already established in the country, the newly established China R&D Center will further expand Boehringer Ingelheim's early clinical development capabilities in China, deepen external innovation collaborations, and accelerate the translation of cutting-edge scientific discoveries into innovative therapeutic solutions that benefit patients in China and around the world.

The new R&D center integrates four core capabilities into a unified platform, further strengthening the synergy between scientific discovery, early development, and translational research. The newly established Experimental Medicine team will drive the advancement of innovative projects through disease mechanism studies, biomarker development, and clinical Proof-of-Concept (PoC) research. In the future, the company will actively promote China's participation in all pre-PoC clinical development programs. Meanwhile, the External Innovation team, comprising Business Development & Licensing (BD&L) and the Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund, will deepen collaboration with China's rapidly evolving innovation ecosystem. It will proactively identify, evaluate, and advance partnership opportunities to support more in-licensing and collaborative projects, thereby contributing innovative outcomes to Boehringer Ingelheim's global R&D pipeline. Additionally, the Development Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) and Clinical Pharmacology & Nonclinical Safety Sciences teams will continue to provide support for early development and scientific decision-making.

Dr. Paola Casarosa, Member of the Executive Board of Boehringer Ingelheim and Head of the Innovation Unit, stated, "China is rapidly becoming a significant force in global biomedical innovation. The establishment of our China R&D Center reflects our firm confidence in China's innovation ecosystem and scientific talent, and underscores the strategic role of the Chinese team within Boehringer Ingelheim's global R&D network. We look forward to the Chinese team playing an even greater role in integrating scientific insights and innovative achievements into our global R&D processes, thereby accelerating the availability of breakthrough therapies to patients worldwide."

Dr. Paola Casarosa, Member of the Executive Board of Boehringer Ingelheim and Head of the Innovation Unit

Currently, the Boehringer Ingelheim China team is playing a significant role within the company's global R&D network. The China team has participated in all of the company's key clinical studies and more than 70% of its early-stage clinical research projects. In addition to clinical development, the China team also assumes critical functions in drug development, clinical pharmacology and non-clinical safety sciences, as well as external innovation. These efforts have yielded remarkable results, facilitating the global first launch or simultaneous global approval of multiple innovative drugs in China.

Dr. Ioannis Sapountzis, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boehringer Ingelheim Greater China, stated, "The establishment of the China R&D Center marks another significant milestone in Boehringer Ingelheim'sdevelopment in China, underscoring the company's firm commitment to long-term investment in the country and its shared growth with China's innovation ecosystem. Moving forward, we will continue to deepen cross-disciplinary collaboration, advance scientific innovation and translational research, strengthen cooperation with all stakeholders in China's innovation ecosystem, and contribute to the 'Healthy China' initiative."

 Dr. Ioannis Sapountzis, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boehringer Ingelheim Greater China

Boehringer Ingelheim is a biopharmaceutical company deeply rooted in the two fields of human pharmaceuticals and animal health. With R&D investment ranking among the industry's forefront, the company is dedicated to researching breakthrough therapies to address significant unmet medical needs, thereby helping to improve or extend lives. Since its founding in 1885, Boehringer Ingelheim has remained an independent family-owned enterprise, always focusing on long-term development. The company employs approximately 54,300 people globally, serves more than 130 markets, and is committed to building a healthier future.

As an R&D-driven biopharmaceutical company, innovation has always been the core engine of Boehringer Ingelheim's development. The company has established a closely coordinated global R&D network in Germany, the United States, China, Japan, and other regions, forming a comprehensive innovation ecosystem that spans discovery research, translational medicine, early and late-stage clinical development, and external innovation collaborations. Currently, Boehringer Ingelheim is conducting over 80 R&D projects covering key therapeutic areas such as cardiorenal metabolic diseases, inflammation, oncology, ophthalmology, and mental health. By combining internal innovation with open collaboration, the company continues to advance the discovery and development of breakthrough therapies, constantly addressing the unmet medical needs of patients worldwide.