Evotec Receives Further Important Pre-Clinical Milestone in Endometriosis Alliance with Bayer

Evotec AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809) announced today that its multi-target endometriosis alliance with Bayer has reached another key pre-clinical milestone for the transition of project from the alliance portfolio into pre-clinical development.
The milestone was achieved under the strategic alliance between Evotec
and Bayer entered in October 2012. The goal of this collaboration is to
develop three clinical candidates within the five-year alliance. Both
parties contribute innovative drug targets and high-quality technology
infrastructures and share the responsibility for early research and
pre-clinical characterisation of potential clinical candidates in the
disease area of endometriosis. This is the fifth candidate to enter
pre-clinical development with one programme already in Phase I.
Dr Mario Polywka, Chief Operating Officer of Evotec, commented: “The
portfolio of projects developed together with Bayer within this alliance
continues to deliver potential new therapies for the treatment of
endometriosis. We are committed to combating this disease and are very
pleased that the combined efforts between our two companies have
delivered another valuable pre-clinical candidate.”
Financial details were not disclosed.
ABOUT ENDOMETRIOSIS
Endometriosis affects an estimated 176 million women worldwide or 10% of
women of reproductive age. It is caused by the abnormal growth of tissue
similar to that which lines the uterus (endometrial tissue) in locations
outside of the uterine cavity, where it causes ectopic lesion growth,
local inflammation and debilitating pain. Endometrial growth is commonly
found on the ovaries and pelvic peritoneum, potentially involving other
organs of the pelvic cavity as e.g. bladder, bowel, and the rectovaginal
space. There is no known cure for endometriosis and most available drug
treatments have certain limitations. Endometriosis is a highly complex
and heterogeneous disease and there is still a high unmet medical need
for innovative therapies which address the individual needs of affected
women. The disease can greatly impact a woman’s social, professional and
personal life, and women with endometriosis often experience a higher
incidence of depression and emotional distress due to the uncertainty of
diagnosis, unpredictability of symptoms and living a normal life. Find
more information at https://endometriosisfoundation.org
or https://endometriosis-league.eu/en.
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.