AimedBio says the first patient has been dosed in a Phase I study of a cancer drug it licensed to Boehringer Ingelheim, marking a clinical milestone as the German drugmaker expands its research ties in South Korea.
AimedBio announced the milestone Oct. 27 but did not specify when the dose was given. The first-in-human trial is testing multiple dose levels in people with advanced solid tumors, with investigators assessing tolerability.
Under an agreement announced in October 2025, Boehringer Ingelheim holds worldwide development and commercialization rights to BI 4060107. AimedBio is eligible for up to $991 million in combined upfront and milestone payments, plus royalties on net sales. AimedBio said the first-patient milestone qualifies it for a payment but did not disclose the amount.
The drug pairs a targeted antibody with a cell-killing compound. Boehringer Ingelheim says the protein target is abundant in many cancer types but scarce in normal tissue, and the payload is derived from exatecan.
Boehringer Ingelheim says it currently conducts around 50 clinical studies in South Korea. It also announced a memorandum with Yuhan at the 2026 Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business in Seoul. The partners said the memorandum would build on a relationship spanning more than 15 years, with new work covering clinical studies, scientific exchange and patient access.
In its regional announcement, Boehringer Ingelheim linked Asia-Pacific's growing importance to competition for talent, research capability and investment. The company says it has operated in Korea for 50 years.
Separately, The Korea Herald reported that Boehringer Ingelheim Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors Shashank Deshpande said the company now sees South Korea as more than a sales and marketing market.
Boehringer Ingelheim spent €6.4 billion on research and development in 2025, equal to 22.9% of group net sales. Human Pharma accounted for €5.8 billion, or 27.4% of that unit's net sales; the company reported more than 80 projects in its Human Pharma pipeline, with about half involving external collaborations.
The trial's primary measure is dose-limiting toxicity during an initial assessment period of up to 21 days, according to the trial listing.
