Xiaorong He, PhD, MBA is Site Head of Development US and Head of Global Development Sciences at Boehringer Ingelheim. Boehringer Ingelheim has a long history of supporting Connecticut’s innovation ecosystem to help drive innovation and economic growth, including partnering with Yale to establish a Biomedical Data Science Fellowship program and providing funding and support to foster the creation of new start-ups and technologies in the life sciences sector. 

Tell us about your work and your multi-faceted role at Boehringer Ingelheim. How does your role support Development and innovation at BI? 

I wear a double hat as the Site Head of Development US and Head of Global Development Sciences at Boehringer Ingelheim. As the Site Head of Development US, I am responsible for shaping the site strategy, overseeing people development, ensuring site compliance, and collaborating with other members of the Country Management Committee to steer initiatives and strategies that impact the entire Boehringer Ingelheim USA. By providing leadership and guidance to a team of 450 scientists, I can help drive innovation and work to ensure that breakthrough therapies are developed efficiently and effectively.

As the Head of Global Development Sciences, I am responsible for guiding my team to drive the adoption of transformative innovation, cultivating a culture of scientific excellence and engagement, and integrating patient centricity and sustainability into the development of novel medicines within Global Development with sites in Germany, US, Japan and China.

I love my job. It gives me a platform to do what I am truly passionate about, which is to develop game-changing medicines to transform the lives of patients for generations. I am proud to work for a great company like Boehringer Ingelheim, which places the unmet needs of patients and animals at its core. Boehringer Ingelheim has invested heavily in research and development (R&D) for over a decade. In 2022, the company invested more than 5.27 billion dollars into R&D. This corresponds to 21% of our sales. For our human pharma business, that percentage is even higher at 24.9% of its sales, which is well above industry average.  Consequently, we have the strongest and most innovative pipeline in Boehringer Ingelheim’s history and more than 30 million people benefited from our therapies in 2022. This is a truly amazing and inspirational accomplishment!

How does BI’s work intersect with Connecticut’s innovation ecosystem? What partners do you work with? 

Boehringer Ingelheim has a long history of supporting Connecticut’s innovation ecosystem to help drive innovation and economic growth. 

One notable example is our strong collaboration with Yale University to advance cutting-edge technologies and scientific research in multiple therapeutic areas and development disciplines. For example, Boehringer Ingelheim has partnered with Yale to establish a Biomedical Data Science Fellowship program to attract top talents around the world to develop novel methods to gain insights into complex biomedical datasets. In addition, our company has provided funding and support to the Yale Entrepreneurial Institute, which is now encompassed in the Blavatnik Fund, Venture Lab, Entrepreneurs in Residence.

Besides Yale, Boehringer Ingelheim supports a number of the University of Connecticut's education and research initiatives. For example, Boehringer Ingelheim has provided funding to establish endowed chairs in the fields of immunology and toxicology. The funding supports the salary and research expenses of the endowed chair holders, as well as other research and education initiatives in these fields.

Further, Boehringer Ingelheim fosters a number of other programs in the state, including the Connecticut Bioscience Innovation Fund and the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. By supporting these initiatives, we are helping to create a vibrant innovation ecosystem in Connecticut that can drive economic growth and improve patient outcomes.

What are some promising innovations you’re seeing in drug development?

There are several promising innovations in drug development that are currently being explored by researchers and scientists. One of the most exciting areas is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to accelerate drug discovery and development. By analyzing large amounts of data and identifying patterns and relationships, AI could help scientists identify new drug targets, predict drug toxicity, enrich clinical trial design, and perform endpoint and biomarker assessments. This approach has the potential to significantly reduce the time and cost of drug development, while also possibly improving the success rate of clinical trials. In 2021, there were more than 130 regulatory submissions containing AI/ML components (Ref. 1). FDA recently issued two discussion papers on AI/ML, communicating the current landscape of AI/ML, sharing initial considerations, and soliciting feedback from stakeholders (Ref. 2).

Another exciting area is the rapid expansion of ground-breaking technologies to enhance drug delivery. For example, nanoparticles can be engineered to target specific cells or tissues in the body, possibly allowing for more precise and effective drug delivery. This approach has shown promise in treating a range of diseases, including cancer and neurological disorders. Another area of innovation is the use of implantable drug-delivery devices. These devices can be implanted under the skin or in other parts of the body and can release drugs over an extended period of time. This approach has the potential to improve patient compliance and reduce the need for frequent injections or oral medications. There is also growing interest in the use of 3D printing to create personalized drug delivery systems. By using 3D printing technology, researchers might be able to create customized drug delivery devices that are tailored to the specific needs of individual patients. This approach has the potential to improve patient outcomes and reduce the risk of adverse reactions to medications. Finally, there is ongoing research into the use of wearable drug-delivery devices, such as patches and smart inhalers. These devices can monitor patient health and deliver medications in real time, possibly allowing for more precise and effective drug delivery. This approach has the potential to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs by reducing the need for hospitalizations and emergency room visits.

Overall, these and other innovations in drug development hold great promise for improving patient outcomes and quality of life and are likely to play an increasingly important role in the future of healthcare.

What are you looking forward to about this year’s Yale Innovation Summit? 

This is the first year I am attending the Yale Innovation Summit. I am amazed at how many diverse and exciting topics it covers. I am particularly looking forward to the keynote panel on Artificial Intelligence (AI), discussing the impact of AI on business, innovation, and society. There is no doubt that AI will fundamentally reshape our economy and our society. We have already gotten a glimpse of what it can do in the pharmaceutical industry. In 2021, FDA received more than 130 regulatory submissions containing AI and Machine learning (ML) components, covering a broad spectrum ranging from discovery research, non-clinical development, and clinical research, to post-marketing surveillance (Ref. 1). While this is extremely exciting, there are concerns associated with development and deployment of AI, such as job displacement, bias and discrimination, privacy and security, and lack of transparency and accountability. It is important to have an open dialogue among regulators, businesses, and society to ensure the responsible and ethical use of AI for the benefit of humankind and our planet.

Do you have a favorite book or resource that has inspired you in your work?

I happened to come across Sadhguru’s book “Inner Engineering – A Yogi’s Guide to Joy” during the pandemic. This book, along with practicing Shambhavi Mahamudra Kriya has profoundly changed my life. Prior to reading it, I suffered from a sleeping disorder, but it has now been alleviated. I feel energetic and joyful every day. Regardless of what happens, I now do not experience stress or irritation in my life. This may sound too good to be true. But millions of people who took the Inner Engineering program share similar experiences as I do. Inner Engineering, derived from the ancient science of Yoga, combines powerful meditation with life wisdom, offering a unique opportunity for self-exploration and transformation, leading to a life of fulfillment and joy.

In contrast, modern science and technology focus on outer engineering. Although they have brought us comfort and convenience, they did not bring us well-being. Instead, a mental health pandemic is looming large. In pursuit of happiness, we have caused great harm to our planet. Well-being is not something one can find in the external world. It is created from within. Learning how to create well-being is an important first step no matter what we plan to do with our lives. Only when we have no fear of suffering, no matter what happens, can we truly explore the full depth of our unique potential and talent.  

Reference:
1.    Landscape Analysis of the Application of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Regulatory Submissions for Drug Development From 2016 to 2021, Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, VOLUME 113 NUMBER 4, April 2023
2.    FDA Releases Two Discussion Papers to Spur Conversation about Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Drug Development and Manufacturing | FDA