Elucidate CD73’s potential role in lung injury and repair

Chronic lung diseases are the second leading cause of death in the world. Despite the emergence of current therapeutics, the diseases are ultimately fatal.

Adenosine is a potent regulator of tissue repair that is elevated in response to injury or stress. High levels of extracellular adenosine have been shown to be associated with the progression of injury and its levels are reduced in the resolution phases in different repair models. Therefore, strategies to target this pathway are emerging as a promising new avenue for tissue repair and regeneration. CD73 plays a central role in adenosine production as it converts extracellular AMP to immunosuppressive adenosine. This led us to identify a novel humanized antagonistic anti-CD73 monoclonal antibody (BI-4153, also known as mAb19¹) that inhibits the enzymatic activity of CD73 and reduces adenosine levels. A novel, complex cellular system that recapitulates lung injury and repair processes is necessary to elucidate CD73’s mode of action in the disease pathogenesis.

The following approaches to answer our question include, but are not limited to: 

1. A strong scientific proposal with a new and compelling scientific idea with our monoclonal antibody to investigate CD73 functions in lung injury and repair processes.
2. A novel in vitro human system enabling investigation of the communication between different cell types.
3. A novel and feasible working hypothesis and experimental plan distinct from those previously published.

1. Proposals focusing on mechanisms of action that are unique or specific to non-human species.
2. Proposals for cell systems lacking applications to the disease setting.
3. Proposals that address lung injury and repair from an oncology perspective are out of scope as well.

We are open to all proposals that can fully or partially meet its requirements. Selected scientists will be able to access our potent anti-CD73 mAb in sufficient quantities to validate their hypothesis. Collaborating scientists will have the opportunity to directly collaborate with Boehringer Ingelheim’s drug discovery research team.

An appropriate funding for the prospective collaboration period is available. The exact funding request should be outlined in the submitted proposal. As a framework, we suggest that the initial funding request is structured in milestones and does not exceed 200,000 euros per submitted proposal.

Furthermore, the opportunity for a funded stay at Boehringer Ingelheim for technology exchange / training is potentially available, as is the availability of custom biological tools and reagents.

Our collaboration agreement will provide full transparency about each partner’s rights & obligations (including intellectual property rights). As part of the agreement you will be encouraged to publish following the collaboration agreement (to be negotiated in good faith).

To maintain the highest degree possible in an open innovation environment, we plan to announce the winner(s) publicly and feature them on opnMe.com and our social media channels. We would guide you through this process and as part of it we would kindly ask for your upfront consent in case our scientific jury had selected your answer.

We are seeking research collaboration proposals that contain:

• A well-structured proposal outlining a new and compelling scientific approach including an experimental plan that will be used to test your hypothesis.
• A novel, testable working hypothesis distinct from those previously published.
• Outline of the technical feasibility, and potentially existing data or previous publications that support feasibility / experience with outlined technology, based on existing techniques and established assays.
• Potentially includes (non-confidential) existing data and results.
• Framing the questions and the innovation aspects which includes a well thought- through project plan with key decision points (e.g. clear Go/No-Go criteria).
• Contain a defined funding request. The project should be structured in milestones and planned with key decision points. The funding request for the initial milestones resulting in a Go/No-Go decision should not exceed 200,000 euros per submitted project in total.
• Proven track record in the required field of expertise.
• Ability to implement the outlined solution as part of a scientific collaboration project including access to a laboratory.

The collaborative priorities for Boehringer Ingelheim’s therapeutic areas are shown in the following table:

Please use our answer submission template to provide a 2-3 page non-confidential proposal (available for download here).

If confidential data exists that would strengthen the proposal, please indicate that information is available to share under a Confidential Disclosure Agreement (CDA). If we find the non-confidential concept proposal sufficiently interesting, we will execute a CDA for confidential discussions.

We are currently seeking answers for the following scientific challenge: Using novel in vitro cellular systems utilizing human patient biopsies, how would you propose to elucidate the role by which CD73 acts on pathologic mechanisms in the context of lung injury and repair?

All incoming answers accompanied by a collaboration proposal will be evaluated by a scientific jury, and, upon selection, chosen proposals are pursued through a joint collaboration with the successful applicants. Initial funding of up to 200,000 euros will be available for each selected proposal.

We can only accept research proposals if they arrive by the submission deadline on December 16, 2021, 11.59 pm PST.