Rectify Pharmaceuticals Inc., a biotechnology company pioneering positive functional modulators (PFMs) that restore and enhance membrane protein function, has entered a strategic research and licensing agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim to accelerate the development of treatments for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and other conditions.

The collaboration leverages Rectify’s PFM platform to develop oral, small molecules that enhance ABCC6 protein function and reduce calcification, which is a key disease driver of cardiorenal dysfunction in chronic kidney diseases. Under the terms of the agreement, Rectify will receive an upfront payment and has the potential to earn up to $448 million through preclinical, clinical, regulatory and commercial milestones, in addition to tiered royalties on future product sales.

“Rectify’s collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim validates the potential of our PFM platform to enhance wild-type protein function to address underlying disease biology, opening the door to large, common disease opportunities like chronic kidney disease (CKD) that affect millions of people,” said Rajesh Devraj, PhD, CEO and President of Rectify. “We’re delighted to collaborate with Boehringer Ingelheim, who share our commitment to addressing unmet needs in serious diseases with only limited treatment options. Our work together represents an important step forward for Rectify to advance development of novel disease-modifying therapeutics that could fundamentally shift outcomes for patients.”

“Rectify’s PFM platform offers a differentiated approach to developing disease-modifying treatments that target fundamental drivers of cardiorenal dysfunction. The ability to enhance ABCC6 function and reduce calcification opens new possibilities for patients with CKD and other diseases where calcification is a key pathology. We are excited to work with Rectify’s scientists to deliver much-needed new treatments to people living with CKD and other diseases,” said Søren Tullin, Global Head of Cardiovascular-Renal-Metabolic Diseases Research at Boehringer Ingelheim.