HAMBURG, Germany, and BRANFORD, Conn., Aug. 19, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Evotec AG (Frankfurt: 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.
For further information, please contact Gabriele Hansen VP, Corporate Communications & Investor Relations +49.(0)40.560 81-255 +49.(0)40.560 81-333 Fax Evotec AG Manfred Eigen Campus Essener Bogen 7 22419 Hamburg (Germany)
