Boehringer Ingelheim Sees Asia-Pacific As Life Science Innovation Pillar

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2 (Bernama) -- Asia-Pacific (APAC) is rapidly gaining importance as a major pillar of global life science innovation, Boehringer Ingelheim Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors, Shashank Deshpande said at the Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business (APK) 2026 in Seoul.

Deshpande said predictable, science-friendly policy frameworks that attract investment are essential to improve access to new human and animal health products.

“We draw on Europe’s scientific depth, the broad United States innovation environment and APAC’s speed, scale and growing research and development capabilities to drive our global innovation engine,” he said.

In 2025, the company conducted more than 200 clinical studies with over 160 academic institutions in ASEAN countries, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, the biopharmaceutical company said in a statement.

Its screening programmes for chronic kidney disease and heart failure have reached more than 72,000 people in Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand, with several pilots now being scaled up by local governments.

Additionally, its “Stop Rabies” animal health programme has provided more than 65 million vaccine doses for dogs and cats across five Southeast Asian countries since 2022.

In Japan, where it has operated since 1961, Boehringer Ingelheim invested 300 million euros in its Yamagata plant in 2025 to make it an export hub for the Asia-Oceania region.

Marking 50 years in South Korea, the company signed a memorandum of understanding with Yuhan on the sidelines of the conference, extending their partnership of more than 15 years into clinical and scientific collaboration and patient access.

-- BERNAMA