On July 29, 2024, biopharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim announced its acquisition of Nerio Therapeutics, a drug discovery and development company focused on phosphatases, a notoriously difficult class of potentially high-value therapeutic protein targets, and its preclinical program of novel immune checkpoint inhibitors for up to $1.3 billion. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Nerio Therapeutics on IP related to the transaction and advises the company on patent matters.

Under the deal, Boehringer gains access to Nerio’s small molecules designed to inhibit the protein tyrosine phosphatases N1 and N2 (PTPN1 and PTPN2), which act as immune checkpoints. The company aims to develop the preclinical program as a potential key centerpiece component for its immuno-oncology portfolio to achieve its aim of improving cancer patient outcomes.

The Wilson Sonsini team that advised Nerio Therapeutics on IP and patent matters included Deborah Smith, Michael Hostetler, Val Zunic, Céline Bonnefous, and Kaia Parenti.

For more information, please see Boehringer Ingelheim’s press release. Additional coverage can be found on BioSpace and Fierce Biotech.