Evotec SE — Regulatory Filings 2014

Sep 15, 2014

News Details

Corporate | 15 September 2014 07:30

Evotec and the Jain Foundation expand collaboration: Start of multiple drug screening programmes

DGAP-News: Evotec AG / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

15.09.2014 / 07:30

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Hamburg, Germany - 15 September 2014: Evotec AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange:
EVT, TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809) and the Jain Foundation Inc. today
announced that they have further extended and expanded the collaboration
first signed in 2012 and extended last year.

This next phase of collaboration includes the screening of compound
libraries in multiple assay formats to further support the Jain
Foundation's goals of understanding and curing dysferlinopathies, a group
of inherited skeletal muscular dystrophy diseases. This marks a major
milestone in the efforts of the Jain Foundation to identify therapeutics
which can counteract the phenotypes of dysferlin deficiency.

Dr Mario Polywka, Chief Operating Officer of Evotec, commented: "We are
delighted to continue our relationship with the Jain Foundation and to be a
part of this important step in dysferlin research. The progress to date and
initiation of multiple screening programmes is a major accomplishment for
both organisations and demonstrates Evotec's growing role in driving
innovative and industrialised research in partnership with foundations such
as the Jain Foundation working in rare diseases."

Dr Plavi Mittal, President and CEO of Jain Foundation, added: "We are
pleased with the progress of our project with Evotec to date, and are
excited to move forward to the screening phase of our drug development
programme."

No financial details are disclosed.

ABOUT THE EVOTEC AND JAIN FOUNDATION COLLABORATION
In 2012, Evotec and the Jain Foundation initiated a research project to
explore and validate cell-based assay principles useful for high throughput
screening using dysferlin deficient skeletal muscle cells. The aim of this
project is to discover compounds that improve the well-being of these
dysferlin deficient skeletal muscle cells. In 2013, Evotec and the Jain
Foundation extended and expanded their collaboration to leveraging Evotec's
assay development and screening capabilities.

ABOUT JAIN FOUNDATION
The Jain Foundation, located in Seattle, Washington, USA, is a privately
funded not-for-profit focused on finding a therapy for muscular dystrophies
caused by dysferlin deficiency (LGMD2B/Miyoshi Myopathy).

ABOUT MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY
Muscular dystrophy refers to a group of diseases that produce muscle
weakness. Muscular dystrophies all involve abnormalities of the muscle
cells themselves, rather than the nerves that control the muscles. All
muscular dystrophies are caused by genetic mutations.
Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy refers to a group of diseases (not a single
disease) which were lumped together, long before the era of molecular
biology and genetic engineering, because they shared some common clinical
symptoms. The name refers to the first muscles to show symptoms, which are
those around the shoulders and the hips.
Myopathy simply means 'muscle disease'. Miyoshi Myopathy (MM) is a form of
muscular dystrophy that was first described in the medical literature by
Miyoshi in 1967. Although first identified in Japan, it occurs worldwide.
Miyoshi is caused by defects in the gene for the protein dysferlin.
Dysferlin is a protein made from the dysferlin gene that, when mutated or
absent, causes both Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy type 2B and Miyoshi
Myopathy.

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, inflammation and infectious
diseases. 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 and MedImmune 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.

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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