Evotec acquires Bionamics GmbH to accelerate 'EVT Innovate' strategy

 

  • Expanding discovery pipeline with portfolio of projects especially in Multiple Sclerosis and CNS
  • Appointment of Dr Timm Jessen as "EVP Business Development EVT Innovate" to further enhance translation capabilities

 

Hamburg, Germany - 24 March 2014: Evotec AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809) today announced the acquisition of the Germany-based Bionamics GmbH. Bionamics is an asset management company that focuses on the translation of academic innovations into attractive assets for the biotech and Pharma industry. The transaction comprises the acquisition of all shares of Bionamics against cash and future milestone payments. Next to an experienced management team Bionamics brings a portfolio of highly attractive and fully funded projects especially in neurodegeneration and CNS to Evotec.

Further financial details of the transaction remain undisclosed.

Dr Werner Lanthaler, Chief Executive Officer of Evotec, said: "With the acquisition of Bionamics we accelerate our EVT Innovate strategy and enlarge our reach towards outstanding innovations. We welcome the openness of Bionamics to join the discovery infrastructure of Evotec. We are also very happy to welcome Dr Timm Jessen back at Evotec. In his new management role, Dr Jessen will be responsible for the commercialisation of "EVT Innovate" projects."

Dr Timm Jessen, Managing Director of Bionamics GmbH, commented: "We highly value Evotec's strategic appreciation of our work and its success as demonstrated e.g. in managing the NEU² programme, a consortium of academic, biotech and Pharma partners focussing on novel products to treat Multiple Sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases. The combination of our management skills with Evotec's strong operational capabilities offers a unique constellation for researchers and entrepreneurs around the globe to accelerate their innovation together with us. I very much look forward to expand this concept further within the Evotec Group." 

 

ABOUT BIONAMICS

Bionamics GmbH is an asset management company in Hamburg, Germany, bridging the gap between excellent research projects and the industry's need for pre-clinical and clinical development programmes. The company was founded in 2006 and currently employs three employees. Bionamics has set up and manages NEU² (www.neu-quadrat.de), a consortium established to generate new treatment options in neurodegenerative diseases and supported by public funds of up to EUR 40 Mio. Before founding Bionamics Timm Jessen was the CSO of Evotec AG from 1997 to 2004.

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.