• THE COLLABORATION WILL INITIALLY FOCUS ON CYSTOBACTAMIDS, A FAMILY OF NATURAL ANTIBACTERIAL PRODUCTS WITH BROAD ACTIVITY AGAINST THE MOST DANGEROUS GRAM-NEGATIVE PATHOGENS
• EVOTEC AND HELMHOLTZ AIM TO JOINTLY DEVELOP CYSTOBACTAMID DERIVATIVES INTO A NEW CLASS OF BROAD SPECTRUM ANTIOBIOTICS TARGETING HIGH-PRIORITY PATHOGENS

Hamburg and Braunschweig, Germany, 20 February 2019:
Evotec AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, MDAX/TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (“HZI”) announced today a collaboration with the goal to address a major global health threat by developing novel antibiotics that overcome drug-resistant bacterial pathogens. Research activities will initially be focused on the optimisation of cystobactamids, a family of natural antibacterial products with innovative chemical scaffolds that are active against the most dangerous Gram-negative pathogens on the WHO priority list.

Under the terms of the agreement, Evotec and HZI will collaborate for an initial term of 3 years. The collaboration will combine HZI’s unique collection and know-how of natural products as well as access to in vitro and in vivo models of bacterial infection with Evotec’s leading drug discovery platform, expertise in medicinal chemistry and pharmacology as well as world-leading collection of bacterial pathogens.

Dr Cord Dohrmann, Chief Scientific Officer of Evotec, commented: “Combining the platforms of one of Europe’s leading and most prestigious academic anti-infectives research institutions with one of the industry’s largest and most comprehensive antibacterial drug discovery platforms is a great opportunity to advance the fight against antimicrobial resistance. Applying proven platforms in combination with the latest technologies and world-leading expertise is the most effective way to address one of most challenging health care threats for society. We are extremely proud that HZI chose Evotec as their partner.”

Prof. Dirk Heinz, Scientific Director of HZI, said: “Translating insights from infectious diseases research into medical applications as quickly as possible is a crucial part of HZI’s mission. Strategic cooperation with clinical and industry partners is vital to delivering on this translational mission by further developing innovative drug candidates such as cystobactamids as a potential tool against dangerous Gram-negative hospital germs. With Evotec we have found a strong and long-term oriented partner whose profile complements HZI’s own expertise in antibiotics research extremely well. We are looking forward to develop our drug candidates together with Evotec.”

No financial details of this collaboration were disclosed.

About Antimicrobial resistance 

Antimicrobial resistance or AMR is the ability of a microorganism, such as bacteria, viruses, and some parasites, to prevent an antibiotic from working against it. As a result, standard treatments become ineffective, infections persist and new resistance mechanisms may rapidly spread globally. AMR is one of the biggest threats to global health today and – if left untreated – could result in 10 million annual deaths and a cumulative global cost of $ 100 trillion by 2050.

ABOUT HELMHOLTZ CENTRE FOR INFECTION RESEARCH

Scientists at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig and its other sites in Germany, are engaged in the study of bacterial and viral infections and the body’s defence mechanisms. They have a profound expertise in natural compound research and its exploitation as a valuable source for novel anti-infectives. As member of the Helmholtz Association and the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) HZI performs translational research laying the ground for the development of effective new treatments and vaccines against infectious diseases. www.helmholtz-hzi.de/en

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.