Boehringer Ingelheim is investing again in immuno-oncology, announcing Monday a deal to acquire the San Diego-based biotechnology startup Nerio Therapeutics and its slate of preclinical drug candidates.

勃林格殷格翰（BoehringerIngelheim）周一宣布，将再次投资于免疫肿瘤学，收购总部位于圣地亚哥的生物技术初创公司Nerio Therapeutics及其临床前候选药物名单。

Worth up to $1.3 billion, the acquisition hands Boehringer access to a research program the German pharmaceutical company envisions as a “potential key centerpiece” of its immuno-oncology drug portfolio. Nerio’s small molecule drugs are designed to block enzymes known as PTPN1 and PTPN2 that brake the body’s immune response to tumors..

价值高达13亿美元的收购使勃林格获得了一项研究计划，该研究计划被德国制药公司视为其免疫肿瘤药物组合的“潜在关键核心”。Nerio的小分子药物被设计用于阻断PTPN1和PTPN2酶，这些酶可以阻止人体对肿瘤的免疫反应。。

Targeting such “immune checkpoints” has animated much of cancer research and development over the past decade, with mixed results. Checkpoint inhibitors aimed at the proteins PD-1, PD-L1 and CTLA-4 have transformed treatment for many tumors, but drugmakers haven’t been as successful outside of those targets..

在过去的十年中，针对这些“免疫检查点”已经激发了许多癌症研究和开发，结果喜忧参半。针对蛋白质PD-1，PD-L1和CTLA-4的检查点抑制剂已经改变了许多肿瘤的治疗方法，但制药商在这些目标之外并没有取得成功。。

In a statement, Boehringer said it believes Nerio’s small molecules could be potent enough to work as cancer treatment on their own, as well as in combination with other candidates the pharma is currently advancing.

勃林格在一份声明中表示，它相信Nerio的小分子可能足够强大，可以单独作为癌症治疗药物，也可以与制药公司目前正在推进的其他候选药物联合使用。

“Securing the rights to Nerio Therapeutics' novel checkpoint inhibitors creates a broad panel of exciting new cancer treatment combination opportunities,” said Paola Casarosa, a member of Boehringer’s board of managing directors.

勃林格董事会成员Paola Casarosa说：“确保Nerio Therapeutics新型检查点抑制剂的权利，创造了一系列令人兴奋的新癌症治疗组合机会。”。

The company did not disclose how much of the deal’s value will be paid upfront.

该公司没有透露这笔交易的价值将预付多少。

On Nerio’s website, the company says it expects to ask the Food and Drug Administration later this year for clearance to begin clinical testing with its lead asset.

在Nerio的网站上，该公司表示，预计将在今年晚些时候要求食品和药物管理局批准其主要资产开始临床测试。

The company is backed by Avalon BioVentures and Alexandria Venture Investments, along with a few others. Its co-founders and current executives previously ran Calporta Therapeutics, which Merck & Co. acquired in 2019.

该公司得到了AvalonBioventures和Alexandria Venture Investments以及其他一些公司的支持。其联合创始人和现任高管此前曾经营Calporta Therapeutics，该公司于2019年被默克公司收购。