Boehringer Pens €1.05B Deal for Simcere's Preclinical IBD Bispecific SIM0709

Pharma Licensing / Immunology January 28, 2026

Boehringer Pens €1.05B Deal for Simcere's Preclinical IBD Bispecific SIM0709

Deal Snapshot

• Buyer: Boehringer Ingelheim
• Seller: Simcere
• Asset: SIM0709 (Bispecific)
• Total Value: €1.05 Billion
• Targets: TL1A & IL-23p19

Boehringer Ingelheim has agreed to a pay an upfront payment and development, regulatory and sales milestone payments that in aggregate could reach 1.05 billion euros for the global rights to Simcere’s preclinical inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) bispecific.

The deal centers on SIM0709, which targets tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 15 (TL1A) and interleukin-23p19 (IL-23p19). In a Jan. 27 release, Boehringer said SIM0709 has “demonstrated superior synergistic efficacy, even outperforming the combination of the two corresponding monotherapies” in cell and animal studies.

Strategic Fit: Accelerating IBD Development

Boehringer markets Cyltezo, a biosimilar of AbbVie’s Crohn’s disease drug Humira. The German pharma also has an IBD asset in development in the form of a phase 2-stage TREM-1 antagonist for ulcerative colitis.

“In IBD, too many patients continue to progress and experience severe complications despite currently available anti-inflammatory therapies. We are excited to join forces with Simcere to accelerate the development of this therapeutic as a potential life changing option for patients living with IBD.”
— Carine Boustany, Ph.D., Global Head of Immunology, Boehringer

Simcere’s Platform and High Demand

The Chinese biopharma’s antibody tech was in high demand last year, with AbbVie penning a $1.05 billion biobucks deal for a phase 1-stage trispecific, NextCure signing off on $745 million for a tumor asset, and Ipsen securing an antibody-drug conjugate. Simcere already markets several oncology drugs in China, including the FDA-approved Cosela and Enweida.

“Simcere’s bispecific antibody SIM0709 was engineered with our proprietary multi-specific antibody platform with first-in-class potential for IBD treatment. Partnering with Boehringer Ingelheim, with its long‑term commitment and deep expertise in immunology, positions the compound for rigorous global development.”
— Gaobo Zhou, Chief Investment Officer, Simcere

Target Validation: IL-23p19 and TL1A

IL-23p19—one of the pathways targeted by SIM0709—has proven its worth thanks to approved immunology drugs like Eli Lilly’s ulcerative colitis med Omvoh, Johnson & Johnson’s Tremfya and AbbVie’s Skyrizi for Crohn’s disease.

TL1A—the other target—has seen increased interest from Big Pharma in the wake of Roche's $7 billion acquisition of Roivant subsidiary Telavant in 2023. Since then, Sanofi and Teva’s anti-TL1A antibody duvakitug performed well in a phase 2 IBD trial, while AbbVie bought a preclinical IBD candidate from China’s FutureGen Biopharmaceutical in 2024.