Boehringer Scraps Covid Therapy Due to Lack of Benefit

Boehringer Ingelheim has discontinued a Phase 2 trial of a first-in-class compound for reducing the risk or severity of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in patients hospitalized with Covid-19 and requiring oxygen support. The decision follows a recommendation by trial’s independent data monitoring committee after an interim analysis showed “a clear lack of benefit for use of BI 764198,” the company says.

“We believe that beyond vaccines, effective treatments for Covid-19 and its complications are urgently needed and we will continue other trial programs including the research and development of a SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody that can be administered via inhalation,” Boehringer says. Research and development work continues on antibodies that can neutralize the virus and the development of therapies to prevent blood clots, it adds.