Pfäffikon/Ingelheim – Boehringer Ingelheim has completed an acquisition of Saiba Animal Health. The innovative technology platform developed by Saiba Animal Health, which is based in the Greater Zurich Area, will give the German pharma company more options for developing pet therapeutics.

According to a press release, German pharma company Boehringer Ingelheim has acquired Saiba Animal Health AG, located in Pfäffikon in the Swiss canton of Schwyz. Saiba was established in 2013 as a spin-off of the University of Zurich and has developed a broad, innovative pipeline of therapeutic vaccinations based on virus-like particles. The Saiba Animal Health innovative technology platform is based on a novel therapeutic vaccination approach that creates an immune response and targets chronic diseases such as allergy, inflammation and pain.

“Our pets live longer which creates different needs for their medical care, and often without good existing treatment options”, says Eric Haaksma, Head of Global Innovation, Animal Health at Boehringer Ingelheim. He adds that Boehringer is “very excited about the potential of Saiba Animal Health’s groundbreaking technology platform, which could result in a more specific and longer-lasting therapeutic response to chronic diseases in companion animals than current approaches.”

Pointing to the longstanding partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim, Gary T. Jennings, CEO of Saiba Animal Health, says that the two companies joining forces “will pave the way for a whole new class of therapeutic medicines for pets, with a true impact on the lives of animals and their owners.” ce/gba