Envisagenics and Boehringer Ingelheim partner to validate AI-identified RNA splicing targets for precision therapies across solid tumors.
Written By: Kirti Kumbhar, M. Pharm (QA)
Reviewed By: Pharmacally Editorial Team
Envisagenics and Boehringer Ingelheim have entered a multi-year research collaboration to validate tumor-specific targets identified through Envisagenics’ AI-powered SpliceCore® platform. The partnership could generate more than $1 billion for Envisagenics and may support development of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), T-cell engagers and multispecific antibodies for solid tumors.
Collaboration Targets Tumor-Specific RNA Splicing Events
Under the agreement, Boehringer Ingelheim will evaluate selected targets previously identified through SpliceCore® and conduct additional research to establish their therapeutic potential. If the research program succeeds, Boehringer will have options to exclusively license selected targets that meet the validation criteria for further development and commercialization.
The agreement does not provide blanket exclusivity over the SpliceCore® platform. The potential exclusive licenses apply to selected targets that successfully progress through the research and validation program.
Envisagenics is eligible for more than $1 billion in potential payments, including an upfront payment, research funding, option fees, development and regulatory milestones, commercial milestones and royalties on future product sales. These potential payments remain contingent on the progression and success of the partnered programs.
AI Platform Explores Alternative RNA Splicing
Alternative RNA splicing allows cells to generate different RNA and protein isoforms from the same gene. Cancer cells frequently disrupt this process, creating tumor-specific protein isoforms that may distinguish malignant cells from healthy tissues.
These cancer-associated isoforms represent a potential source of therapeutic targets that conventional gene-level approaches may miss. Highly selective targets could potentially allow therapies to recognize tumor cells while limiting effects on normal tissues, although this hypothesis requires experimental and clinical validation.
SpliceCore® combines artificial intelligence, large-scale transcriptomic analysis and experimental validation to identify and prioritize disease-associated splicing events. The platform has screened more than 14 million distinct splicing events, creating a large transcriptomic search space that can reveal cancer-specific molecular patterns conventional gene-centric discovery approaches may overlook.
The platform also evaluates factors including disease specificity, prevalence across patients and potential therapeutic suitability, helping prioritize splicing events with potential relevance to drug development.
Multiple Therapeutic Modalities Under Evaluation
Boehringer Ingelheim may apply selected targets across several oncology modalities, including ADCs, T-cell engagers and multispecific antibodies.
Using the same tumor-specific target across different therapeutic formats could provide multiple routes for translating target biology into drug candidates. However, the collaboration has not disclosed specific target identities, therapeutic candidates or clinical-stage programs resulting from the agreement.
For solid tumors, target selectivity remains a major challenge because many tumor-associated proteins also occur in healthy tissues. Identifying molecular features substantially enriched in or restricted to malignant cells could provide new opportunities for more selective drug development.
Partnership Adds to Boehringer’s Oncology Strategy
Maria Luisa Pineda, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder of Envisagenics, said the collaboration supports the company’s strategy of using alternative RNA splicing as a source of disease-specific therapeutic targets.
Mark Petronczki, Global Head of Oncology Research at Boehringer Ingelheim, said the company views alternative RNA splicing as an underexplored target space and will combine Envisagenics’ discovery capabilities with its oncology expertise.
The collaboration fits Boehringer’s strategy of combining novel biological targets with different therapeutic modalities to expand its precision oncology pipeline.
Research Program Will Determine Next Development Steps
The immediate focus is target validation rather than clinical development. Boehringer Ingelheim will determine whether selected targets meet the criteria required for further therapeutic development and potential exclusive licensing.
Future milestones will depend on successful research and target validation, followed by candidate selection and preclinical development. No clinical trial timelines, specific drug candidates or regulatory filing dates were disclosed.
If validated, the targets could provide new entry points for precision therapies against solid tumors and help establish whether alternative RNA splicing can translate into clinically actionable, tumor-selective targets.
Reference
Envisagenics and Boehringer Ingelheim Enter Multi-Target Collaboration to Develop First-in-Class Precision Therapies Based on RNA Splicing-Derived Targets for Hard-to-Treat Cancers, ENVISAGENICS, 22 September 2026
About the Writer
Kirti Kumbhar (LinkedIn) is an M.Pharm graduate with experience in Quality Assurance at Lupin Limited and a strong interest in clinical research, regulatory affairs, and Trial Master File (TMF) management. She has developed knowledge of regulatory documentation, quality systems, compliance, and healthcare research through her professional experience. Passionate about clinical development and continuous learning, Kirti is committed to supporting high-quality healthcare documentation, regulatory excellence, and research-driven healthcare advancements.