Boehringer Ingelheim announced a significant increase in patient reach for 2024, serving 66 million patients worldwide, an 8% rise from the previous year. The company is now preparing for multiple new product launches starting in 2025, following substantial investments in research and development that reached €6.2 billion, representing 23.2% of the group's net sales.
"As our current pipeline continues to mature and more products come closer to a potential market introduction, we have entered a pivotal phase of high investments," said Hubertus von Baumbach, Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors. "It is important that we use every opportunity to bring these new treatments to patients as fast as possible – this is our number one priority."
Strong Performance in Human Pharma
The company reported Human Pharma sales rose by 7% to €21.9 billion in 2024, driven primarily by two flagship products. JARDIANCE®, now approved for chronic kidney diseases in addition to type 2 diabetes and heart failure, saw sales increase by 14.6% to €8.4 billion. OFEV®, used to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and certain fibrosing interstitial lung diseases, grew 8.9% to €3.8 billion.
R&D spending in the Human Pharma division reached €5.7 billion, accounting for 27.6% of the business unit's net sales. This significant investment reflects the company's commitment to innovation and bringing new treatments to market.
"If we look at the past five years, Boehringer Ingelheim has invested approximately €25 billion in R&D," noted Frank Hübler, Member of the Board of Managing Directors with responsibility for Finance. "With the innovations currently in our pipeline, we will further increase investments in R&D in the years to come."
Key Product Launches Anticipated for 2025
Following positive clinical trial results, Boehringer Ingelheim is preparing multiple new product launches beginning this year, with a focus on two promising candidates: zongertinib and nerandomilast.
Zongertinib for HER2-Mutated Lung Cancer
If approved, zongertinib would represent a significant advancement as the first orally administered, targeted therapy for previously treated HER2-mutated lung cancer patients. The development of this drug was accelerated following impressive results from the Phase 1b Beamion LUNG-1 trial, which demonstrated a response rate of 71% (95% CI, 60–80, p<0.0001) and a disease control rate of 93%.
The drug was generally well tolerated, with only a 3% discontinuation rate due to toxicity. Additional studies investigating zongertinib's efficacy in other HER2-altered solid tumors are currently ongoing.
Nerandomilast for Pulmonary Fibrosis
Nerandomilast has shown promise in advancing care for patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (FIBRONEER™-IPF) and Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis (FIBRONEER™-ILD). Both phase III FIBRONEER™ trials met their primary endpoints, with full data expected to be presented in the coming months.
Both zongertinib and nerandomilast have been submitted to regulatory authorities globally, with first launches in the US anticipated in the second half of this year, pending approval.
Animal Health Division Growth
Boehringer Ingelheim's Animal Health division also reported positive results, with sales increasing by 1.9% to €4.7 billion in 2024. This growth was primarily driven by Pet Parasiticides and Therapeutics, Poultry, and Ruminant products. The parasiticide NEXGARD® strengthened its position as the industry's top-selling brand, growing 14.0% to €1.4 billion.
The company played a crucial role in supporting livestock producers and governments during outbreaks of transboundary animal diseases (TADs) such as avian influenza, bluetongue virus, and foot-and-mouth disease. These diseases pose significant risks to animal health, impede global trade, and constrain food supply.
Expanding Pipeline and Future Outlook
Boehringer Ingelheim's Human Pharma pipeline includes over ten new Phase II and III trials planned for the next 12 to 18 months, potentially resulting in a range of significant launches over the next five years.
The company has also been active in forming strategic partnerships to enhance its therapeutic offerings. Notable collaborations include a partnership with Gubra, a Denmark-based organization focusing on peptide-based therapies, to develop anti-obesity agents. Another partnership with OSE Immunotherapeutics has yielded candidates BI 765063 and BI 770371, developed for the treatment of advanced solid tumors.
Sustainability Initiatives
Boehringer Ingelheim reported progress toward its goal of becoming carbon neutral in company operations (Scope 1 and 2) by 2030. The company increased global renewable electricity purchases to approximately 75% in 2024, primarily through transitioning to renewable solutions at various sites, including facilities in Japan and China. A new biomass power plant was commissioned at the Ingelheim site in Germany, boosting on-site renewable energy generation to 95% of the location's energy needs.
The company also continued its global efforts to combat rabies by providing 46 million vaccine doses and supporting vaccination campaigns in endemic countries. Additionally, the "Angels" initiative, which aims to optimize stroke treatment quality, added over 1,000 organizations to its network, making it the world's largest stroke community with 237,000 healthcare professionals from more than 9,000 hospitals across 158 countries. To date, this initiative has helped 19 million stroke patients.
Future Outlook
Looking ahead to 2025, Boehringer Ingelheim expects the general trends and developments of the past year to continue. The company anticipates a further increase in the number of patients reached and a slight year-on-year increase in net sales, adjusted for currency and extraordinary effects.
With its robust pipeline and significant R&D investments, Boehringer Ingelheim is positioning itself for sustained growth and continued innovation in both human and animal health sectors, reinforcing its commitment to addressing areas of high unmet medical need.
