Corporate | 19 August 2014 07:29
DGAP-News: Evotec AG / Key word(s): Alliance
19.08.2014 / 07:29
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Hamburg, Germany, and Branford, CT - 19 August 2014: Evotec AG (Frankfurt
Stock Exchange: EVT, TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809) today announced the start
of a multi-year compound management agreement between Evotec (US) Inc. and
Medicines for Malaria Venture ("MMV") in support of MMV's Malaria and
Pathogen Box initiatives.
These two innovative initiatives are expected to revolutionise the field of
drug discovery for malaria and neglected diseases.
The Malaria Box contains 400 diverse molecules active against blood stage
P. falciparum malaria, available free of charge on request. To date, more
than 160 boxes have been despatched to 27 countries catalysing numerous
drug discovery programmes.
The Pathogen Box, based on a similar model to the Malaria Box, is supported
by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation awarded in 2013. The
400 molecules currently being selected for this new box will be active not
just against malaria, but against a range of neglected diseases. The
Pathogen Box is expected to be available for distribution in 4Q 2015.
Researchers who receive these compounds free of charge are expected to
share their findings and data with the research community via a scientific
publication or the publicly accessible database ChEMBL.
In this collaboration, Evotec will leverage its industry-leading and
long-standing compound management services to support MMV's efforts to
establish, maintain and distribute vital research tools to the global
malaria research community. Evotec delivers an industrialised,
state-of-the-art and comprehensive compound management infrastructure to
support all aspects of this collaboration.
Dr Mario Polywka, Chief Operating Officer of Evotec, commented: "We are
pleased to partner with the Medicines for Malaria Venture and to support
these important initiatives. We are confident that our team will provide
high-quality services as required to support MMV, their investigators and
ultimately patients."
Dr Tim Wells, Chief Scientific Officer of MMV, added: "Researchers are
starved of access to promising molecules due to financial and technical
barriers. MMV's Malaria and Pathogen Box initiatives aim to remove these
barriers and suppliers like Evotec are critical to their success. We look
forward to jointly ensuring robust compounds enter the R&D process and the
best ones are developed into effective new medicines for vulnerable
populations."
No financial details were disclosed.
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. We operate worldwide providing
the highest quality stand-alone and integrated drug discovery solutions,
covering all activities from target-to-clinic. 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, pain,
metabolic diseases as well as oncology and inflammation. Evotec has
long-term discovery alliances with partners including Bayer, Boehringer
Ingelheim, CHDI, Genentech, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, MedImmune/AstraZeneca,
Roche and UCB. In addition, the Company has existing development
partnerships and product candidates both in clinical and pre-clinical
development. These include partnerships with Boehringer Ingelheim,
MedImmune and Hyperion Therapeutics in the field of diabetes, with Janssen
Pharmaceuticals in the field of depression and with Roche in the field of
Alzheimer's disease. For additional information please go to
www.evotec.com.
ABOUT MEDICINES FOR MALARIA VENTURE (MMV)
MMV is a leading product development partnership (PDP) in the field of
antimalarial drug research and development working towards the vision of a
malaria free world. Its mission is to reduce the burden of malaria in
disease endemic countries by discovering, developing and facilitating
delivery of new, effective and affordable antimalarial drugs. Since its
foundation in 1999, MMV has developed and brought to registration four new
medicines with partners from over 300 pharmaceutical, academic and endemic
country partners in more than 50 countries. With its partners MMV manages
the largest portfolio of antimalarial R&D projects ever assembled,
encompassing over 65 projects.
MMV is grateful to its donors, including the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation, the governments of Australia, Ireland, Switzerland, the United
Kingdom, the United States of America, Norway and Japan, as well as the
Wellcome Trust, the ExxonMobil Foundation and Newcrest Mining Ltd, whose
support make this vital work possible.
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.
Contact Evotec AG:
Gabriele Hansen, VP Corporate Communications & Investor Relations, Phone:
+49.(0)40.56081-255, gabriele.hansen@evotec.com
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Language: English
Company: Evotec AG
Manfred Eigen Campus / Essener Bogen 7
22419 Hamburg
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)40 560 81-0
Fax: +49 (0)40 560 81-222
E-mail: info@evotec.com
Internet: www.evotec.com
ISIN: DE0005664809
WKN: 566480
Indices: TecDAX
Listed: Regulierter Markt in Frankfurt (Prime Standard);
Freiverkehr in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover,
München, Stuttgart
End of News DGAP News-Service
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