BioMed X Institute and Boehringer Ingelheim have announced a new global call for research proposals to establish an independent research group focused on developing next-generation intraocular biologics. The initiative, launched on May 20, 2025, will be housed at the joint XSeed Labs incubator on Boehringer Ingelheim's research and development campus in Ridgefield, Connecticut.
This marks the second research initiative at the XSeed Labs incubator and aims to tackle one of the most significant challenges in retinal disease treatment: the burden of frequent intraocular injections, which remains a substantial barrier to patient adherence despite advances in biologic therapies.
Addressing Critical Unmet Needs in Ophthalmic Drug Development
While current biologic therapies have significantly improved the treatment of retinal diseases, patients must endure frequent eye injections to maintain therapeutic efficacy. The collaboration between BioMed X and Boehringer Ingelheim seeks to develop biologics with two critical characteristics: extended intraocular half-life and enhanced retinal tissue penetration.
"By expanding our collaboration with BioMed X – already advancing fibrosis and wound healing research on our Ridgefield campus – we now aim to leverage our biologics expertise to drive innovative solutions toward improving retinal drug delivery," said Dr. Andrew Nixon, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Biotherapeutics Discovery Research at Boehringer Ingelheim.
The selected research team will focus on building a robust platform for designing and validating next-generation intraocular biologics that can effectively modulate targets within the retina while significantly reducing injection frequency.
Three Key Scientific Challenges
The new research group will tackle three main scientific challenges:
- Development of a novel human organotypic in vitro platform for screening biologics with extended intraocular half-life and increased retinal penetration
- Exploration of innovative design principles for long-acting and tissue-penetrating intraocular biologics
- Validation of the most promising candidate technologies both in vitro and in vivo
Mark Johnston, CEO of BioMed X USA, emphasized the significance of this expanded collaboration: "A year after unveiling our first research team at Boehringer Ingelheim's Ridgefield R&D site, we are thrilled to expand our joint XSeed Labs incubator on the company's campus and into a new area. This extended collaboration is proof that installing our BioMed X model within the campus of a major pharmaceutical company can indeed add value to their internal R&D pipeline."
Bridging Academia and Industry
The XSeed Labs model represents a unique approach to pharmaceutical innovation by embedding an open-innovation incubator directly within Boehringer Ingelheim's campus. This model aims to bridge the gap between academic research and industrial drug development.
"We are excited to see how well our new XSeed Labs model integrates into the R&D campus of Boehringer Ingelheim," said Dr. Christian Tidona, Founder and Managing Director of the BioMed X Institute. "It is our mission to increase innovation productivity in pharma, combining the best of the two worlds - academia and industry."
Research Team Structure and Expertise
The new research team will comprise one group leader, two postdoctoral researchers, and two research assistants. Ideal candidates should bring expertise in ophthalmology, tissue engineering, antibody engineering, or related disciplines, along with a strong interest in translational research.
Interdisciplinary collaboration is strongly encouraged, particularly in retinal biology, biotherapeutics discovery, and complex in vitro model development. However, the project scope excludes approaches involving medical devices or nanoparticle-based formulations.
Application Process
Life sciences researchers interested in joining this new BioMed X team at the Boehringer Ingelheim Ridgefield campus can submit project proposals via the BioMed X Career Space before July 12, 2025.
A History of Successful Collaboration
BioMed X and Boehringer Ingelheim have a history of successful collaboration dating back to 2015, with five joint research projects hosted by the BioMed X Institute in Heidelberg, Germany, focusing on respiratory diseases, immunology, and neuroscience.
The first research project within the XSeed Labs framework, launched a year ago, focuses on developing next-generation clinically relevant models of fibrosis and wound healing.
Potential Impact on Patient Care
If successful, this research initiative could significantly transform the treatment landscape for patients with retinal diseases. By reducing the frequency of intraocular injections while maintaining or improving therapeutic efficacy, the next-generation biologics could enhance patient adherence, reduce treatment burden, and potentially improve long-term outcomes.
The Ridgefield innovation hub, which houses Boehringer's Biotherapeutics Center of Excellence, provides an ideal environment for this research, with its focus on pioneering novel biologics that address unmet patient needs across various diseases.
This collaboration exemplifies how industry-academic partnerships can tackle significant challenges in drug delivery and potentially transform patient care through innovative approaches to biologic design and development.
