The German group is investing heavily in R&D and the continued strong performance of products like Spiriva and Pradaxa is helping to pay for future innovation.

Following in the wake of Merck & Co's acquisition of VelosBio, the German major is spending big to get hold of the Swiss oncology biotech NBE-Therapeutics which is also targeting the ROR1 protein.

The German pharma’s top business development execs explain how they balance IO and targeted cancer therapy in their portfolio, views on major M&A and how to make deals during a global pandemic.

Boehringer Ingelheim intends to combine Lupin’s MEK inhibitor with its own KRAS inhibitors to target the oncogenic KRAS-RAF-MEK-ERK pathway, mutations in which drive many difficult-to-treat cancers.