Evotec SE: P2X3 antagonist demonstrates efficacy against refractory chronic cough in Phase II (POC)

• ALL STUDY ENDPOINTS MET. POSITIVE PHASE II PROOF-OF-CONCEPT (POC) RESULTS FOR EFFICACY AND SAFETY IN PATIENTS WITH REFRACTORY CHRONIC COUGH
• PROJECT IS FIRST PHASE IIA POC ORIGINATING FROM THE EVOTEC/BAYER MULTI-TARGET ALLIANCE 

Hamburg, Germany, 25 July 2019: Evotec SE (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, MDAX/TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809) today announced that the Company has been notified by its partner Bayer about the successful outcome of a combined Phase I/IIa study with the P2X3 antagonist BAY1817080, originating from the Evotec/Bayer multi-target alliance. The objective of the study was to evaluate the safety, efficacy and dose range of BAY1817080 in patients with refractory chronic cough.

According to the initial information about the data, the study’s primary endpoint, a reduction of the 24-hour cough counts relative to placebo, was met. In the study, BAY1817080 was found to be safe and well tolerated. Under the agreement from 2012, Evotec would be entitled to its next financial milestone payment upon start of a Phase III clinical study, to be decided by Bayer. 

In October 2012, Evotec and Bayer initiated their multi-target discovery alliance with the goal to discover three clinical candidates. The successful and productive long-term alliance ended as planned in 2018, generating six pre-clinical candidates, three of which have already progressed under the sponsorship of Bayer into Phase I clinical trials. Bayer advanced the first programme into a Phase II trial in chronic cough in 2018 and initiated a second Phase II trial with a further P2X3 candidate for the same indication in February 2019. For more information about this Bayer/Evotec alliance also see “White Paper on Bayer/Evotec Alliance”.

Dr Werner Lanthaler, Chief Executive Officer of Evotec, commented: “We are extremely excited to see that the excellent collaboration between Bayer and Evotec continues to deliver and generate significant value. But even more important, this is great news for the large number of patients who suffer from the condition of refractory chronic cough.”

More details of the study will be presented by Bayer.

About Refractory Chronic Cough

Refractory chronic cough is a painful, debilitating condition characterised by unexplained coughing episodes ranging from 10s to 100s of times per hour and persisting for longer than 8 weeks. Chronic cough can last for months or even years and is one of the most common reasons for seeing a doctor. The global prevalence of chronic cough is approximately 10 percent, of which 15-20% of cases are categorised as refractory chronic cough. Currently, there are only limited treatment options available to manage this condition.

ABOUT EVOTEC SE

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 and our more than 2,800 employees provide the highest quality stand-alone and integrated drug discovery and development solutions. We cover all activities from target-to-clinic to meet the industry’s need for innovation and efficiency in drug discovery and development (EVT Execute). 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 neuronal diseases, diabetes and complications of diabetes, pain and inflammation, oncology, infectious diseases, respiratory diseases and fibrosis. On this basis, Evotec has built a broad and deep pipeline of approx. 100 co-owned product opportunities at clinical, pre-clinical and discovery stages (EVT Innovate). Evotec has established multiple long-term alliances with partners including Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, CHDI, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Sanofi, Takeda, UCB and others. For additional information please go to www.evotec.com and follow us on Twitter @Evotec.

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.