An IL-11 therapeutic programme that emerged from academic research and a Duke-NUS spin-off has progressed into Phase II clinical studies for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
SINGAPORE, 15 JANUARY 2026—Duke-NUS Medical School noted the announcement by Boehringer Ingelheim of a Phase IIa clinical study evaluating BI 765423, a first-in-class IL-11 inhibitor for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The programme is among prominent few preclinical discoveries from Singapore to progress into Phase II clinical evaluation, marking a significant translational milestone with the potential to impact a devastating disease with limited treatment options.
The programme emerged from a deep academic medicine collaboration between Duke-NUS and SingHealth, including the National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS). The work was led by Duke-NUS scientists, including Professor Stuart A Cook and Dr Sebastian Schäfer, whose research underpinned the formation of Enleofen Bio, a SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre spin-off company established to advance IL-11-targeted antibody therapeutics, before the asset was acquired for further global development by Boehringer Ingelheim.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis remains a progressive and life-limiting disease with limited treatment options. Advances in understanding fibrotic mechanisms, including the role of IL-11, have opened new avenues for therapeutic development across fibrotic conditions.
“This progression reflects how translational science should work,” said Professor Patrick Tan, Dean of Duke-NUS Medical School. “When discovery research is closely integrated with clinical insight and advanced through strong academic expertise, it can be catalytic. Seeing a Singapore-originated programme advance into Phase IIa patient studies underscores the strength of our academic medicine ecosystem in moving science toward potential patient impact.”
Duke-NUS works closely with partners across Singapore’s healthcare and research landscape to support pathways that enable promising discoveries to progress toward clinical development and, ultimately, patient benefit.
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