INGELHEIM, Germany, September 03, 2024 – Boehringer Ingelheim announced today that it has acquired Saiba Animal Health AG, a company dedicated to developing innovative therapeutic medicines for chronic diseases in pets.
This acquisition strengthens Boehringer Ingelheim’s animal health research and development (R&D) pipeline, particularly in the rapidly growing pet therapeutics sector.
As the lifespan of pets increases, the demand for effective treatments for debilitating diseases also rises.
Saiba Animal Health’s groundbreaking technology platform employs a novel therapeutic vaccine approach, designed to trigger an immune response targeting chronic ailments such as allergies, inflammation, and pain. These therapeutic vaccines utilize virus-like particles to stimulate the animal’s immune system. They generate neutralizing antibodies against the animal’s own disease-causing proteins. This approach may lead to longer-lasting effects, better treatment outcomes, and enhanced convenience and compliance for pet owners.
“Our pets live longer, leading to different needs for their medical care, often without existing effective treatment options”, stated Eric Haaksma, Head of Global Innovation, Animal Health at Boehringer Ingelheim. “As a research-driven company, we are incredibly excited about the potential of Saiba Animal Health’s groundbreaking technology platform, which could result in a more targeted and sustained therapeutic response to chronic diseases in companion animals compared to current approaches.”
The acquisition follows a series of development and licensing collaborations between Boehringer Ingelheim and Saiba Animal Health. These collaborations advanced several species-specific product candidates, based on Saiba Animal Health’s technology platform, aimed at improving the management of chronic diseases in companion animals.
Dr. Gary T. Jennings, CEO of Saiba Animal Health, said: “We are delighted that our long-standing partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim has evolved into this agreement. Joining forces will pave the way for a new class of therapeutic medicines for pets, with a significant impact on the lives of animals and their owners.”
The terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. Stifel acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Saiba Animal Health for the transaction.
Boehringer Ingelheim
Boehringer Ingelheim is a biopharmaceutical company active in both human and animal health. As a leading investor in Research and Development within the industry, the company focuses on developing innovative therapies to address significant unmet medical needs. Independent since its establishment in 1885, Boehringer embraces a long-term perspective, incorporating sustainability throughout its entire value chain. Over 53,500 employees serve over 130 markets to build a healthier, more sustainable, and equitable future. Learn more at .
Saiba Animal Health
Saiba Animal Health AG, founded in 2013 as a spin-off from the University of Zurich, Switzerland, has developed a wide-ranging and innovative pipeline of Virus-Like Particles (VLP)-based therapeutic vaccines targeting major unmet medical needs in veterinary medicine.