Boehringer Ingelheim has entered into a research and licensing agreement with Palatin Technologies valued at up to €280 million (approximately $327 million). The collaboration aims to develop new retinal disease therapies, with a primary focus on diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic macular edema (DME).

Under the terms of the agreement, Boehringer will provide up to $327 million in upfront, development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments, along with tiered royalties. The partnership centers on Palatin’s research program, which leverages melanocortin receptor agonists to target mechanisms that are involved in inflammation, immune response, vascular dysfunction, metabolism, and neurodegeneration.

Boehringer’s head of eye health and research beyond borders, Dr. Remko Bakker, said in a news release: “Millions of people worldwide face a progressive decline in their independence and connection to the world due to vision loss caused by complications of diabetic retinopathy, such as DME… Given the high treatment burden associated with DR, the potential of a melanocortin receptor agonist is a strategic fit with our pipeline focusing on addressing the three main drivers of retinal disease.” He also noted the potential applicability of this mechanistic approach to other retinal diseases with unmet clinical needs.