DGAP-News: Evotec and Harvard University to collaborate on development of new class of antibacterials
(firmenpresse) - DGAP-News: Evotec AG / Key word(s): Alliance
Evotec and Harvard University to collaborate on development of new
class of antibacterials
16.05.2013 / 07:27
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*TARGET PGB (PEPTIDOGLYCAN BIOSYNTHESIS) IS THE FOCUS OF COLLABORATION
DESIGNED TO DEVELOP NOVEL FAMILY OF ANTIBACTERIAL DRUGS BASED ON HIGHLY
VALIDATED TARGET
Hamburg, Germany and Cambridge, MA - 16 May 2013: Evotec AG (Frankfurt
Stock Exchange: EVT, TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809) today announced a research
collaboration with Harvard University aimed at discovering and developing
novel anti-bacterial agents based on a highly validated target family
involved in bacterial cell wall biosynthesis.
Under the Agreement, researchers at Harvard and Evotec will collaboratively
identify and optimize small molecule inhibitors of bacterial cell wall
synthesis, based on enabling technologies and chemical starting points
licensed from Harvard. Using its comprehensive drug discovery
infrastructure and expertise in addressing anti-bacterial targets, Evotec
will specifically target peptidoglycan biosynthesis (PGB). The approach
leverages promising chemical starting points, biological and
structure-guided techniques allied with extensive medicinal chemistry
expertise. The commercialisation of the resulting assets will be through
Evotec.
'We are pleased to have entered into this collaboration with Harvard in the
antibacterial space', said Dr Werner Lanthaler, CEO of Evotec. 'The lack of
new antibacterials has been broadly recognised as a major unmet medical
need as antibiotics pipelines are drying up while resistance against
existing drugs is on the rise. We are excited to team up with our
colleagues at Harvard to systematically target a highly validated but
under-exploited anti-bacterial target family.'
Dr Vivian Berlin, Director Business Development in Harvard's Office of
Technology Development, added: 'Target PGB builds on research at Harvard
on bacterial cell wall biosynthesis, which is at the perfect stage of
development to partner with Evotec. Our goal in collaborating with Evotec
is to accelerate the research and advance the project toward the clinic.
This collaboration benefits from our aligned vision, complementary skills
and the strong relationship we have built with Evotec in our other ongoing
collaborations.
Exploiting proprietary assays, chemical starting points, and x-ray
crystallographic tools from Harvard, the collaboration paves the way to
develop novel antibacterial agents targeting PGB. The collaboration
leverages the longstanding research of Daniel Kahne and Suzanne Walker,
Professors in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and in the
Departments of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology and
Microbiology and Immunobiology, respectively, and Evotec's experience in
the antibacterial space.
'We are pleased to combine forces with Evotec to exploit our knowledge of
bacterial cell wall and in particular peptidoglycan biosynthesis for
antibacterial drug discovery' said Prof Daniel Kahne. 'We are confident
this collaboration will put us in a strong position to translate the
science and develop a new class of antibiotics against this well conserved
target.'
ABOUT EVOTEC AG
Evotec is a drug discovery alliance and development partnership company
focused on rapidly progressing innovative product approacheswith 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.
About Harvard University's Office of Technology Development
Harvard's Office of Technology Development (OTD) is responsible for all
activities pertaining to the evaluation, patenting and licensing of new
inventions and discoveries made at Harvard University and Harvard Medical
School. OTD also serves to further the development of Harvard technologies
through the establishment of sponsored research collaborations with
industry. OTD's mission is to promote the public good by fostering
innovation and translating new inventions made at Harvard into useful
products available and beneficial to society.
Contact Evotec AG:
Gabriele Hansen, Head of Corporate Communications, Phone:
+49.(0)40.56081-255, gabriele.hansen(at)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.
End of Corporate News
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16.05.2013 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a
company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
DGAP's Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements,
Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.
Media archive at www.dgap-medientreff.de and www.dgap.de
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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.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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