Evotec SE — Regulatory Filings 2016

Feb 2, 2016

News Details

Corporate | 2 February 2016 07:31

Evotec awarded grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research

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

2016-02-02 / 07:31
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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Hamburg, Germany - 02 February 2016: Evotec AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange:
EVT, TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809) today announced that it has been awarded a
research grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation ("MJFF") to further
develop Evotec's TargetaSN (Targetalpha-synuclein) programme for the
treatment of Parkinson's disease.

The grant from MJFF supports the development of a highly sensitive assay to
quantify the amount of the alpha-synuclein protein in human nerve cells.
Mutations in the alpha-synuclein gene are known to cause Parkinson's
disease, and the hallmark pathology of the disease, including in idiopathic
patients, is aggregates of alpha-synuclein called Lewy bodies. Reducing the
levels of mutated alpha-synuclein protein in the brain of Parkinson's
disease patients is a promising treatment approach.

Dr Kuldip Dave, Director of Research Programs at MJFF commented:
"Alpha-synuclein is a primary target both for Parkinson's drug development
and biomarker research. Reliable tools to measure this protein, such as is
being developed by Evotec, will help us better understand the course of
disease, monitor its progression more closely and test new therapies more
efficiently."

Dr Cord Dohrmann, Chief Scientific Officer of Evotec, stated: "We are
delighted about the support of MJFF for our TargetaSN programme, which is
part of a larger Evotec initiative to address neurodegenerative diseases
through highly innovative approaches involving patient-derived stem cells
and genetically validated mechanisms. Within this initiative, we
systematically explore mechanisms that have been validated through human
genetics in the context of patient-derived neuronal cells. This approach is
expected to lead to the identification of novel targets and compounds with
a higher probability to become effective treatments compared to
conventional approaches."

ABOUT PARKINSON'S DISEASE
Parkinson's disease is a chronic, degenerative neurological disorder that
is characterised by well-known motor symptoms including tremors, stiffness
of limbs, slowness of movements and difficulties with posture and balance,
as well as by non-motor symptoms. The cause is unknown, and although there
is presently no cure, there are treatment options such as medication and
surgery to manage its symptoms. Parkinson's disease is more common in
people over 60 years of age and its prevalence is expected to increase
significantly as the average age of the population increases. Estimates of
the number of people living with the disease therefore vary, but recent
research indicates that at least one million people in the United States,
and more than five million worldwide, have Parkinson's disease.
(Source: MJFF and Parkinson's Disease Foundation)

ABOUT THE MICHAEL J. FOX FOUNDATION
The Michael J. Fox Foundation (www.michaeljfox.org) is dedicated to finding
a cure for Parkinson's disease through an aggressively funded research
agenda and to ensuring the development of improved therapies for those
living with Parkinson's today. Since 2000, The Michael J. Fox Foundation
has funded more than $ 525 million to speed a cure for Parkinson's disease.

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, gabriele.hansen@evotec.com

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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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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: Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated
Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover,
Munich, Stuttgart

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