- First collaboration within open innovation alliance with Yale University
- Collaborative effort will explore novel mechanisms, targets and compounds that have the potential to interfere with DNA repair to identify new targets for drug discovery and development
HAMBURG, Germany, Dec. 17, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Evotec AG (Frankfurt: EVT ) (TecDAX) (ISIN:DE0005664809) today announced a research collaboration, Target DBR ( DNA Break Repair ) , with the laboratories of Prof. Peter Glazer and Prof. Ranjit Bindra at Yale School of Medicine. The objective of this collaboration is to identify novel mechanisms, targets and compounds that have the potential to interfere with DNA repair. DNA repair mechanisms allow cancer cells to cope with extensive genome rearrangements as well as to escape conventional radio- and chemotherapy and thus have potential applications in many cancer indications. This is the first collaboration to be announced as part of Evotec's open innovation alliance with Yale University.
Target DBR is based on systematic cell screens designed to identify DNA repair inhibitors and their mechanisms of action. The application of Evotec's high-content cellular screening platforms allied to chemoproteomics-based target deconvolution will enable the identification not only of novel DNA repair inhibitors but also of novel tractable targets in DNA repair pathways. The initial focus will be on increasing the effectiveness of glioblastoma brain tumour treatments but it is expected that the DNA repair inhibitors will also find application in many other cancer types. Yale and Evotec will collaborate in a highly integrated fashion and share potential commercial rewards.
Dr Cord Dohrmann, Chief Scientific Officer of Evotec, commented : "Deficiencies in DNA repair mechanisms constitute not only initiating events leading to cancer but also provide potential therapeutic targets on the basis of the concept of synthetic lethality. We are very excited about the opportunity to collaborate with Peter and Ranjit to identify and develop novel classes of DNA repair inhibitors that have the potential to become highly effective therapeutics against difficult to treat cancers such as glioblastoma."
"Through this collaboration with Evotec, novel biological discoveries and medical insights made at Yale are being effectively translated into a state-of-the-art drug discovery project. The collaboration is already demonstrating the benefit of the Yale Evotec open innovation alliance in accelerating drug discovery projects", said Dr Jon Soderstrom, Managing Director of Yale's Office of Cooperative Research .
Financial details were not disclosed.
ABOUT THE EVOTEC AND YALE OPEN INNOVATION ALLIANCE
In January 2013, Evotec AG and Yale University entered into a strategic partnership. Under the agreement, Evotec and Yale are leveraging first rate science performed at Yale University together with Evotec's drug discovery infrastructure and expertise into highly innovative discovery approaches in diseases of high unmet medical need. Evotec and Yale have defined a wide range of scientific fields including metabolic diseases, CNS, immunological diseases and cancer where they will jointly assess and potentially pursue novel assays, screens and models but in particular exploratory drug targets and compounds. The intention is to seamlessly integrate Evotec's drug discovery infrastructure with highly innovative biology at Yale to mature individual projects to a stage where they can be commercialised.
ABOUT GLIOBLASTOMA
The most common primary malignant brain tumours are malignant gliomas and glioblastomas. Whilst the incidence is relatively low at about 2-3 cases per 100,000 people, glioblastoma tumours are aggressive resulting in a dismal prognosis for patients and an associated poor quality of life. Standard-of-care therapy involves radiation and chemotherapy with temozolomide and provides a median survival of 15 months.
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 and Ono Pharmaceutical. 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 Andromeda (Teva) 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 YALE
Founded in 1810, the Yale School of Medicine is a world-renowned centre for biomedical research, education and advanced health care. Among its 27 departments are one of the nation's oldest schools of public health and the internationally recognized Child Study Center, founded in 1911. Yale School of Medicine consistently ranks among the handful of leading recipients of research funding from the National Institutes of Health and other organizations supporting the biomedical sciences. Its core faculty of more than 1,100 physicians and scientists is well represented within the Institute of Medicine and National Academy of Sciences and among investigators of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The Yale Center for Molecular Discovery provides Yale researchers with access to drug discovery expertise and support services.
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 report. 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.
Gabriele Hansen Head of Corporate Communications +49.(0)40.560 81-255 +49.(0)40.560 81-222 Fax Evotec AG Manfred Eigen Campus Essener Bogen 7 22419 Hamburg (Germany)
