Enleofen Bio

Enleofen Bio, a spin-out from the National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS), SingHealth, and Duke-NUS Medical School, specializes in developing first-in-class antibody therapeutics aimed at treating fibrotic diseases, including those affecting the skin, lungs, heart, eye, and kidneys. The initial discovery and drug target validation was led by Professor Stuart Cook and Assistant Professor Sebastian Schafer at NHCS and Duke-NUS, leading to the filing of over five patent applications. These patents, along with a suite of advanced antibody and inhibitor drug candidates, have been licensed to Enleofen, positioning the company for a strong entry into the drug development arena. Enleofen is actively working towards entering clinical trials for its lead antibody targeting diseases with currently limited treatment options. Enleofen has been managed efficiently by just Prof. Cook and his co-founder, since the workload has been manageable and it reduces manpower costs.

In a landmark achievement for Singapore's biotechnology sector, Boehringer Ingelheim acquired the rights to Enleofen’s antibody program just 2½ years after the company’s inception. The deal, valued at up to $1 billion per antibody drug in combined upfront, milestone, and commercial payments, is the largest biotechnology licensing agreement ever recorded in Singapore and Southeast Asia. This partnership is focused on developing therapies for a range of fibrotic disorders, including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), with the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes globally, particularly in regions like Singapore where cardiometabolic diseases are prevalent.

Boehringer Ingelheim launched the clinical development of its first-in-class Interleukin-11 (IL-11) inhibitor antibody, BI 765423. The Phase 1 study aims to assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of the drug in healthy volunteers. This IL-11 inhibitor, which has shown promise in preclinical studies for halting and potentially reversing fibrosis across multiple organs, marks the first of its kind to reach clinical trials. The initiation of this trial underscores Boehringer Ingelheim’s commitment to combating fibrotic diseases and complements its broader clinical pipeline, which includes other promising therapies for fibrotic conditions.

Looking ahead, Prof. Cook is willing to take risks and aims to advance IL-11 by testing its effects in humans. While he acknowledges the uncertainties of trial outcomes, he has strong confidence in the current data. Enleofen also seeks the opportunity to direct their own clinical trial, potentially at NHCS, to have greater control over the direction and therapeutic approach of the trial.