DGAP-News: Evotec and Harvard Stem Cell Institute form CureMN collaboration to advance ALS research
(firmenpresse) - DGAP-News: Evotec AG / Key word(s): Alliance
Evotec and Harvard Stem Cell Institute form CureMN collaboration to
advance ALS research
12.09.2013 / 07:30
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Hamburg, Germany - 12 September 2013: Evotec AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange:
EVT, TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809) today announced a strategic partnership
with the Harvard Stem Cell Institute ('HSCI') to identify compounds that
prevent or slow down the loss of motor neurons, which is characteristic of
the human disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ('ALS'). The collaboration
'CureMN' (CureMotorNeuron) will leverage human motor neuron assays based on
ALS patient-derived induced pluripotent stem ('iPS') cells that were
developed by Dr Lee Rubin, HSCI Principal Faculty member and professor in
the Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard, and Dr
Kevin Eggan, Early Career Scientist at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute,
HSCI Principal Faculty member and professor in the Department of Stem Cell
and Regenerative Biology at Harvard as well as Evotec's leading drug
discovery infrastructure and expertise to identify compounds that will have
therapeutic value against this life-threatening disease.
Dr Cord Dohrmann, Chief Scientific Officer of Evotec, commented: 'Kevin and
Lee have made significant contributions to our understanding of the
underlying pathology of motor neuron diseases. Their laboratories have
developed a large array of ALS patient-derived motor neuron models that
allow screening of diseased human cells in culture - an approach that is
sometimes referred to as a 'clinical trial in a dish'. Our intention is to
systematically screen for new mechanisms, targets and compounds that have
the potential to be developed into new products that will modify and
ideally halt the progression of ALS and potentially other motor neuron
diseases.'
'Phenotypic screens based on patient-derived iPS cells are an exciting
approach to tackle diseases where tractable mechanisms have remained
elusive. Evotec's proven expertise in high-content screening and deep
knowledge in the field of motor neurons is a perfect match for this
project. In this latest collaborative effort with Evotec, we look forward
to putting our combined dedication and knowledge to work identifying new
therapeutics for motor neuron diseases', added Dr Vivian Berlin, Director
Business Development in Harvard's Office of Technology Development.
This agreement marks the third collaboration between Evotec and leading
Harvard Stem Cell Institute scientists - and the fourth with Harvard
scientists - and significantly expands a partnership model which combines
cutting-edge academic research from Harvard with Evotec's leading drug
platform and expertise. This partnership model efficiently and effectively
drives the development of innovative drug candidates.
'This agreement is another important step in our vital collaboration with
Evotec, enabling us to hasten the transfer of stem cell-based discoveries
to the clinic', said Brock Reeve, Executive Director of HSCI.
'Evotec, HSCI and Harvard share a commitment to accelerating promising
research from the lab to the clinic', says Isaac T. Kohlberg, Harvard
University's Senior Associate Provost and Chief Technology Development
Officer. 'Our continued collaboration is based upon a shared vision to
match world-class science with industrial capability to address important
unmet medical need, which is at the core of our public mission.'
Evotec has also reached an agreement in principal with PatientsLikeMe
(www.patientslikeme.com) on approaches to rapidly evaluate any patient
testable theories about progression or pathways that might express
themselves in ALS patients.
No financials were disclosed.
ABOUT ALS
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ('ALS') - also referred to as motor neurone
disease or Lou Gehrig's disease in some part of the United States - is a
debilitating disease with varied etiology characterised by rapidly
progressive weakness, muscle atrophy and fasciculations, muscle spasticity,
difficulty speaking (dysarthria), difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) and
difficulty breathing (dyspnea). ALS is the most common of the five motor
neuron diseases. The disorder induces muscle weakness and atrophy
throughout the body caused by the degeneration of the upper and lower motor
neurons. Unable to function, the muscles weaken and atrophy. Individuals
affected by the disorder may ultimately lose the ability to initiate and
control all voluntary movement, although bladder and bowel sphincters and
the muscles responsible for eye movement are usually, but not always,
spared until the terminal stages of the disease. The majority of people
with ALS die within 3-5 years from the onset of the symptoms; only about
10% of the people with ALS survive for 10 years or more. ALS mainly affects
people between the ages of 40 and 70, with an average age of 55 at the time
of diagnosis. Generally, ALS is 20% more common in men than women. The
incidence of ALS is 2 per 100,000 people and there are about 150,000
patients diagnosed with ALS worldwide.
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.
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.
ABOUT THE HARVARD STEM CELL INSTITUTE
The Harvard Stem Cell Institute is a unique collaborative organization of
more than 1000 Harvard University and its affiliated hospitals and
institutes, including about 100 Principal Faculty members, dedicated to
advancing stem cell biology in order to advance our understanding of human
development and discover cures and treatments for disease. HSCI is home to
one of the largest concentrations of stem cell scientists anywhere in the
world, and includes among its members many of the leaders in the field.
ABOUT PATIENTSLIKEME
PatientsLikeMe(R) (www.patientslikeme.com) is a patient network that
improves lives and a real-time research platform that advances medicine.
Through the network, patients connect with others who have the same disease
or condition and track and share their own experiences. In the process,
they generate data about the real-world nature of disease that help
researchers, pharmaceutical companies, regulators, providers, and
nonprofits develop more effective products, services and care.
PatientsLikeMe is a trusted source for real-world disease information and a
clinically robust resource that has published more than 35 peer-reviewed
research studies. Visit us at www.patientslikeme.com or follow us via our
blog, Twitter or Facebook.
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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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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230093 12.09.2013
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