Boehringer Ingelheim congratulates Prof. Brian Kobilka of Stanford University, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry. Prof. Kobilka has made ground-breaking contributions to the understanding of how cells sense information from the autonomic nervous system and convert them into cellular responses. He and Boehringer Ingelheim have collaborated repeatedly in recent years to research the molecular understanding of the receptors, which mediate effects of Boehringer Ingelheim drugs in obstructive airway diseases.
About half of all medications worldwide achieve their effect through G-protein-coupled receptors. The Nobel Prize committee has graded the studies by Kobilka and Prof. Robert J. Lefkowitz as crucial for understanding how these extraordinary receptors function.
Furthermore, in 2011, Kobilka achieved another break-through; he and his research team captured an image of the β-adrenergic receptor at the exact moment it was being activated by a hormone and sending a signal into the cell. This image is considered to be a molecular masterpiece - the result of outstanding commitment in decades of research.
About Boehringer Ingelheim
The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world's 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates globally with 145 affiliates and more than 44,000 employees. Since it was founded in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel medications of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.
As a central element of its culture, Boehringer Ingelheim pledges to act socially responsible. Involvement in social projects, caring for employees and their families, and providing equal opportunities for all employees form the foundation of the global operations. Mutual cooperation and respect, as well as environmental protection and sustainability are intrinsic factors in all of Boehringer Ingelheim's endeavors.
In 2011, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of about 13.2 billion euro. R&D expenditure in the business area Prescription Medicines corresponds to 23.5% of its net sales.