Hamburg, Germany | Oxford, UK | Ingelheim, Germany - Evotec OAI AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, TecDAX 30) and Evotec Neurosciences GmbH today announced a three year research collaboration with Boehringer Ingelheim. The companies aim to jointly identify and develop small molecule therapeutics acting on selected G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs).  
 
Applying their drug discovery engine from target to clinic, their unrivalled track record and extensive expertise in neurological disorders, Evotec OAI and Evotec Neurosciences will collaborate with Boehringer Ingelheim on selected GPCR targets with an initial focus on CNS diseases. Boehringer Ingelheim will have global responsibility for all clinical development activities, manufacture and commercialisation of the compounds identified in the collaboration.
 
Under the terms of the collaboration, Boehringer Ingelheim, Evotec Neurosciences and Evotec OAI will jointly identify and develop pre-clinical development candidates. In return for Evotec Neurosciences' and Evotec OAI's contributions to the research programme, Boehringer Ingelheim will make research payments, additional discovery and development payments, and royalties. Further financial details of the collaboration are not disclosed.
 
Professor Dieter Hinzen, Head of Research and Development at Boehringer Ingelheim Germany, commented: "The drug discovery environment in the research-based pharmaceutical industry necessitates collaborations with competent external partners to supplement in-house expertise, knowledge and experience. The broad GPCR-based strategic alliance of Boehringer Ingelheim with Evotec OAI and Evotec Neurosciences should establish a powerful platform for the discovery of promising new medicines in the field of Central Nervous System diseases and other therapeutic areas. We are delighted to work together with Evotec OAI and Evotec Neurosciences in a joint competent scientific team."
 
Joern Aldag, Chief Executive Officer at Evotec OAI and Chairman of the Board of Evotec Neurosciences, said: "We are delighted that Boehringer Ingelheim has chosen Evotec OAI and Evotec Neurosciences as strategic long-term partners in GPCR and Central Nervous System disease research. We are proud that our scientists will be working synergistically alongside Boehringer Ingelheim scientists, bringing together the different strengths and expertise of leading biotech companies with that of a leading pharmaceutical company in one team. Based on Evotec OAI's powerful discovery engine and strong target class experience, in combination with Evotec Neurosciences' disease expertise, we are able to share the success of this joint research through milestones and royalties. We are looking forward to a long and fruitful collaboration."
 
John Kemp, Chief Executive Officer of Evotec Neurosciences, added: "We are very pleased to have entered into this long-term partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim, which is further recognition of our CNS disease and drug discovery expertise. This partnership, following our collaboration with Takeda, the recent in-licensing of compounds from Roche, and the _x0080_25 million Series A funding secured in March of this year, provides additional validation of our business strategy and capability to execute on it."
 
 
About G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs)
GPCRs are the most abundant and most diverse type of cell surface receptors. Their essential function is to transmit signals from the outside to the inside of a cell. Within drug discovery, GPCRs are the single most important target class as 26 of the top 100 pharmaceutical products are compounds that target GPCRs, accounting for annual sales of over $30 billion.
 
About Boehringer Ingelheim
The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world's 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates globally with 152 affiliates in 45 countries and more than 34,000 employees. Since it was founded in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel products of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.
In 2003, Boehringer Ingelheim posted net sales of 7.4 billion euro while spending more than one fifth of net sales in its largest business segment Prescription Medicines on research and development.
For more information please visit www.boehringer-ingelheim.com
 
About Evotec Neurosciences GmbH
Evotec Neurosciences (ENS), employs 26 people at its main site in Hamburg, Germany, and subsidiary in Zurich, Switzerland. The company is dedicated to developing better therapeutic products for the treatment of major CNS disorders. Its current focus is on Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders. The company's strength is the seamless integration of target identification and validation, drug discovery and development by combining its internal expertise with the leading drug discovery platform of Evotec OAI and the research excellence of renowned pre-clinical and clinical partners. ENS' short to medium term strategy is to build a broad and well-balanced product portfolio, including Disease-to-IND, Target-to-IND and Lead-to-Clinical-Proof-of-Concept projects.
http://www.evotec-neurosciences.com
 
About Evotec OAI AG
Evotec OAI is a leader in the discovery and development of the next generation of novel small molecule based drugs through both contract research partnerships and discovery programmes for out-licensing. The company provides innovative solutions from Target to Clinic through an unmatched range of integrated capabilities ranging from assay development and screening through to medicinal chemistry and drug manufacturing. As a result, Evotec OAI has established itself as the partner of choice for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies worldwide. With over 600 people located in Hamburg, Germany and near Oxford, UK, Evotec OAI is committed to generate value to its partners, shareholders and employees through a sustainable strategy that balances short-term and long-term business opportunities.
www.evotecoai.com
 
Contacts:
 
Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH:
Judith von Gordon
Corporate Division Communications
Phone: +49/6132 77 35 82
Email: gordon@ing.boehringer-ingelheim.com

Evotec Neurosciences GmbH:
Dr John Kemp
Chief Executive Officer
Phone: +49/40 56081 220
E-mail: john.kemp@evotec-neurosciences.com
 
Evotec OAI AG:
Anne Hennecke
Investor Relations, Corporate Communications
Phone: +49/40 56081 286
E-mail: anne.hennecke@evotecoai.com