DGAP-News: Evotec AG: New hormone to treat diabetes published in 'Cell'
(firmenpresse) - DGAP-News: Evotec AG / Key word(s): Miscellaneous
Evotec AG: New hormone to treat diabetes published in 'Cell'
26.04.2013 / 07:30
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* Harvard University Prof. Doug Melton and his post doc Peng Yi describe
the new hormone 'betatrophin' that controls beta cell proliferation as
potential diabetes treatment
Hamburg, Germany, 26 April 2013: Evotec AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT,
TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809) today announced an auspicious step in research
from Harvard University. The findings are published in a scientific article
by Prof. Doug Melton, University professor at Harvard University and Howard
Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) investigator and his post doc Peng Yi in
the journal Cell. Doug Melton is the academic key collaborator of CureBeta,
a strategic alliance between Harvard University, Evotec and Janssen
Pharmaceuticals in the field of beta cell regeneration.
In the article, available as of 25 April 2013 in the online edition of
Cell, Doug Melton, who is also the co-director of the Harvard Stem Cell
Institute and his post doc Peng Yi release the discovery of the new hormone
betatrophin that controls beta cell proliferation. All intellectual
property associated with these findings have been licensed to Evotec in
March 2011 and subsequently sublicensed to Janssen Pharmaceuticals within
the CureBeta collaboration announced in July 2012.
Dr Cord Dohrmann, Chief Scientific Officer of Evotec, commented: 'Restoring
beta cell mass and function is the most promising approach to slow down or
reverse disease progression in diabetic patients. The laboratory of Doug
Melton has made a series of important contributions to this beta field in
particular demonstrating that beta cell proliferation is a key mechanism
that controls beta cell mass. His latest publication describes a previously
underappreciated capacity of beta cells to proliferate in response to a
pharmacological trigger and the identification of a novel physiological
mediator, betatrophin.'
ABOUT CUREBETA
In the beginning of 2011, Evotec, Harvard and the Howard Hughes Medical
Institute (HHMI) established the CureBeta initiative. The initial goal of
the collaboration was to pursue a comprehensive and systematic approach
towards the identification and development of physiological mechanisms and
targets that regulate beta cell replication. During the initial period of
the collaboration, Evotec, HHMI and Harvard established new standards in
beta cell regeneration in terms of assays and tools as well as novel high
potential targets. In July 2012, Janssen Pharmaceuticals entered into this
collaboration. Janssen received exclusive access to a series of candidates
designed to trigger the regeneration of insulin-producing beta cells. The
small molecules and biologics were identified by scientists in the Harvard
University laboratory of Douglas Melton and further analysed in
collaboration with scientists from Evotec, as part of the CureBeta research
and development programme.
ABOUT DIABETES
Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic incapacitating disease associated with
severe life-long conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, kidney
diseases, nerve damage and eye diseases, which require intensive monitoring
and control. Diabetes is caused by relative or complete decrease in insulin
production and secretion by pancreatic beta cells. Furthermore, diabetes
can be caused by the reduced effectiveness of secreted insulin in
consequence of the gradual loss of insulin sensitivity of target cells
which is called insulin resistance. At present, there is no cure for
diabetes and only symptomatic treatment options are available. The most
common diabetes types are type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Currently, about
90-95% of diabetes patients worldwide have type 2 diabetes. According to
the International Diabetes Foundation, there are 371 million people
worldwide who are diagnosed with diabetes (2011: 366 million) and about 187
million who are at risk of costly and debilitating diabetes complications
who have not yet been diagnosed. It is estimated that about 4.8 million
people will have died from diabetes at the end of 2012 (2011: 4.0 million).
Concerning the diabetes market volume, approx. $471 bn were spent on the
treatment of diabetes in 2012 (2011: $465 bn).
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.
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.
Contact Evotec AG:
Gabriele Hansen, Head of Corporate Communications, Phone:
+49.(0)40.56081-255, gabriele.hansen(at)evotec.com
End of Corporate News
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26.04.2013 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a
company of EquityStory AG.
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(at)evotec.comInternet: 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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208649 26.04.2013
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Datum: 26.04.2013 - 07:30 Uhr
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