Hamburg, Germany | Abingdon, UK - Evotec OAI AG (Neuer Markt: EVT), a partner for integrated high-value-added drug discovery to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, today announced that Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. selected Evotec OAI as their preferred partner to manufacture their lead product candidate for clinical trials.
 
The collaboration with Achillion started in July 2001. After a successful process research and development programme and the production of smaller quantities in our pilot plant, Achillion now has assigned Evotec OAI to produce several batches of the compound for clinical studies. This product candidate leads Achillion's drug development pipeline and is currently in Phase 2 human clinical trials for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B and HIV infections.
 
"We are pleased to continue our successful collaboration with Evotec OAI. Their development chemistry capabilities integrate well with our internal drug discovery and development efforts," said Lisa M. Dunkle, MD, Senior Vice President, Drug Development of Achillion. "With the contribution of Evotec OAI's quality work, we have achieved significant breakthroughs in the optimisation of the development process for our lead product candidate, and have advanced rapidly into multiple phase 2 studies."
 
Joern Aldag, President and Chief Executive Officer of Evotec OAI, said: "Achillion's tremendous success in the development of the company  is impressive. The progression of Achillion's lead product candidate into phase 2 studies in two indications in less than three years from the company's launch demonstrates the expertise of the development team. We are proud that they chose Evotec OAI as their process research and manufacturing partner."
 
About Evotec OAI AG
Evotec OAI offers a comprehensive range of high-value added services and products required to increase the efficiency and at the same time reduce the risk in the identification of new drugs. By integrating proprietary state-of-the-art technologies and processes in biology, chemistry and screening, the Company has established a unique position for all the critical elements in the drug discovery and development process - from target to clinical development. Due to its extensive know how and experience Evotec OAI is the ideal partner for pharma and biotech companies world-wide. To date, Evotec OAI has completed over 1,200 projects with 150 companies, including all of the top 20 global pharmaceutical companies and major biotechs.
The Company employs more than 600 people, primarily at its two main sites at Hamburg in Germany and Abingdon in the UK. Subsidiaries are located in Europe and North America. In 2001 Evotec OAI achieved revenues of EUR 63.2 million. Evotec OAI shares are listed on the Neuer Markt of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since November 1999 (NM: EVT).
 
About Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Achillion is a privately-held pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialisation of innovative small molecule drugs that combat drug resistance in infectious diseases, with a particular emphasis on antiviral drugs to treat diseases caused by hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV) and HIV. Achillion's drug development pipeline is led by the product candidate, Beta-L-Fd4C (ACH-126,443), which is currently in human clinical trials for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B and HIV infections. Achillion's drug discovery expertise embodies both a conventional medicinal chemistry approach directed at classic anti-infective molecular targets, and its novel Zinc Finger Targeting (ZFT) drug discovery technology developing small molecules that target zinc finger motifs unique to particular pathogens.