Evotec Enters into Strategic Multi-Target Alliance with C4X Discovery

Evotec AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809) today announced a multi-target collaboration with C4X Discovery Holdings plc (“C4XD”).
The new agreement builds on the successful research
collaboration with C4XD announced in January 2015 and will see C4XD and
Evotec work together to develop new small molecule drugs across a range
of targets, therapeutic areas and stages of development, with the
initial programmes targeted towards the treatment of cancer and
autoimmune diseases.
The new long-term strategic alliance will be a rolling multi-target
programme with a minimum of three parallel drug discovery projects
active at any point in time. As part of the agreement, Evotec will apply
its extensive assay and screening technologies, laboratory scientists
and medicinal chemistry know-how to selected C4XD programmes, in return
for funding to partially cover operational costs, milestones dependent
on developmental success and a share of potential future royalties.
Each programme will run until the point of Potential Development
Candidate (“PDC”) nomination, after which C4XD, which retains all IP,
will have the right to out-license successful projects to the pharma
industry or proceed itself to clinical studies on a case-by-case basis,
as per its existing model.
Financial terms have not been disclosed.
Dr Mario Polywka, Chief Operating Officer of Evotec, commented: “We are
very pleased to continue and expand the broad-based drug discovery
collaboration with C4XD. This integrated drug discovery deal showcases
our broad target class expertise coupled with our industry leading
platform, which perfectly complements C4XD’s technology and expertise.
We look forward to a fruitful collaboration with our scientific
colleagues and friends at C4XD.”
Clive Dix, CEO of C4X Discovery, added: “We are delighted to expand on
our successful relationship with Evotec through this alliance that is
designed to support us in achieving our vision of becoming the world’s
most productive drug discovery engine. This new long-term agreement is a
step change from our previous collaboration as now the risk of small
molecule development will be shared as we progress candidates towards
the clinic. We have already identified the first three small molecule
targets and the combination of our unique technologies and the
infrastructure and expertise that Evotec has in place will enable us to
accelerate the development of novel small molecule drug candidates.”
ABOUT C4X DISCOVERY
C4X Discovery aims to become the world’s most productive drug discovery
engine by exploiting cutting edge technologies to design and create
best-in-class small-molecule candidates targeting a range of high value
therapeutic areas. Since the Company’s successful AIM IPO in October
2014, C4X Discovery has made considerable progress across its in-house
pipeline in addiction, diabetes and inflammation with a number of new
drug candidates identified and further progress made towards the clinic.
C4X Discovery now has five therapeutic projects underway. The Company
has two proprietary and synergistic software platforms, “Taxonomy3(R)”
and “Conformetrix”, that provide a significant competitive advantage
when combined with an experienced management team. “Taxonomy3(R)” is a
human genetics analysis platform that utilises a unique mathematical
approach to discovery and validation of drug targets for the treatment
of a variety of diseases. “Conformetrix” determines the 3D shape of drug
molecules from experimental in vitro data giving medicinal chemists new
and unprecedented insights into the behaviour and physical properties of
drug molecules. This enables the rapid design and discovery of better
and safer drugs for diseases with high unmet medical need across broad
therapeutic areas. C4X Discovery’s drug discovery engine was further
strengthened by the acquisition of technologies from Molplex Ltd, in
2016, which included a software-based system which combines
chemoinformatics, computational chemistry and artificial intelligence to
optimise the drug discovery process.
The Company was founded as a spin-out from the University of Manchester
and has a highly experienced management team and Board who have
delivered significant value creation within the healthcare sector
historically. For additional information please go to: www.c4discovery.com
ABOUT EVOTEC AG
Evotec is a drug discovery alliance and development partnership company
focused on rapidly progressing innovative product approaches with
leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academics, patient
advocacy groups and venture capitalists. We operate worldwide providing
the highest quality stand-alone and integrated drug discovery solutions,
covering all activities from target-to-clinic to meet the industry’s
need for innovation and efficiency in drug discovery (EVT Execute). The
Company has established a unique position by assembling top-class
scientific experts and integrating state-of-the-art technologies as well
as substantial experience and expertise in key therapeutic areas
including neuroscience, diabetes and complications of diabetes, pain and
inflammation, oncology and infectious diseases. On this basis, Evotec
has built a broad and deep pipeline of more than 70 partnered product
opportunities at clinical, pre-clinical and discovery stages (EVT
Innovate). Evotec has established multiple long-term discovery alliances
with partners including Bayer, CHDI, Sanofi or UCB and development
partnerships with e.g. Janssen Pharmaceuticals in the field of
Alzheimer’s disease, with Sanofi in the field of diabetes and with
Pfizer in the field of tissue fibrosis. For additional information
please go to www.evotec.com.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Information set forth in this press release contains forward-looking
statements, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The
forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgement of
Evotec as of the date of this press release. Such forward-looking
statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a
variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our
control, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from
those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. We expressly
disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates
or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in our
expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on
which any such statement is based.