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Evotec SE — Regulatory Filings 2016
Mar 22, 2016
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Regulatory Filings
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Corporate | 22 March 2016 06:59
Evotec spins off auto-immune disease company as ‘Topas Therapeutics GmbH’
DGAP-News: Evotec AG / Key word(s): Miscellaneous
2016-03-22 / 06:59
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
* Topas Therapeutics GmbH is based on a proprietary nanoparticle platform
which supports antigen-specific tolerance induction for multiple
indications
* Strong consortium consisting of Epidarex Capital, EMBL Ventures, Gimv and
Evotec AG supports strategic Series A financing round of EUR 14 m
* Initiation of first clinical trials expected in 2017
Hamburg, Germany - 22 March 2016: Evotec AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT,
TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809) today announced the formation of a spin-off
company in the field of nanoparticle-based therapeutics to treat
immunological disorders.
Epidarex Capital, EMBL Ventures and Gimv participated together with Evotec
in the EUR 14 m ($ 15.75 m) Series A round of Topas Therapeutics GmbH.
Evotec will remain the largest shareholder after the financing round.
The new company, Topas Therapeutics GmbH ("Topas"), aims to build a unique
pipeline of clinical-stage development projects to treat autoimmune
diseases. The proceeds of the Series A funding enable Topas to expand and
accelerate its proprietary liver-based tolerance induction platform and to
progress with its own product development efforts in multiple autoimmune
and inflammatory indications including multiple sclerosis into clinical
proof-of-concept ("POC") stage.
Dr Timm Jessen, Chief Executive Officer of Topas, stated: "We are delighted
to engage with such a strong and experienced consortium of investors who
share with us the excellence and commercial potential of this unique mode
to induce antigen-specific tolerance in autoimmune diseases and beyond."
Dr Werner Lanthaler, Chief Executive Officer of Evotec and interim Chairman
of the Supervisory Board of Topas, commented: "We are very excited by
Topas' unique product-platform technology, which has significant
breakthrough potential. The company formation of Topas is the first example
of an acceleration of our business model representing an optimal
risk-reward profile up to clinical proof-of-concept stage for our
shareholders in selected fields of high strategic medical relevance."
Peter Finan PhD, Partner at Epidarex Capital, commented: "Topas
Therapeutics' unique approach to tolerance has the potential to lead to
transformative medicines in diseases of high unmet medical need. We are
delighted to have led the financing with such strong co-investors and we
look forward to working closely with the Topas team to realise this
potential."
ABOUT TOPAS THERAPEUTICS GMBH
Topas emerges from the neuro portfolio of Bionamics GmbH which was acquired
by Evotec in March 2014 and is an early stage therapeutics company using
ground breaking nanoparticle technology to target autoimmune and
inflammatory diseases via the induction of antigen specific immune
tolerance in the liver. The platform has been exclusively licensed from the
University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf ("UKE") where it was invented
by Johannes Herkel, Jörg Heeren and other colleagues in Hamburg. It is
anticipated that Topas will advance their initial programme targeting
multiple sclerosis into clinical development in 2017.
ABOUT EPIDAREX CAPITAL
Epidarex Capital invests in early-stage, high growth life science and
health technology companies in under-ventured markets within the UK and US.
Epidarex was created to meet the need for more sector-specific risk capital
for young companies, including spin-outs from leading research
universities. The fund's international management team has a track record
of successfully partnering with top scientists and entrepreneurs to develop
highly innovative products for the global healthcare market. For further
information please visit www.epidarex.com
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. 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, [email protected]
Contact Topas Therapeutics GmbH:
Dr. Timm-H. Jessen, CEO / Managing Director, Phone:
+49. (0)40.56081-433, [email protected]
2016-03-22 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a
service of EQS Group AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements,
Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.
Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de
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: [email protected]
Internet: www.evotec.com
ISIN: DE0005664809
WKN: 566480
Indices: TecDAX
Listed: Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated
Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover,
Munich, Stuttgart; Terminbörse EUREX
End of News DGAP News Service