Roche and Evotec OAI have worked together on the production of chemical libraries since 2001, with Evotec OAI supplying chemical compound libraries to Roche for use in drug discovery screening programmes. This agreement expands Evotec OAI and Roche's partnership into a cooperative lead optimisation programme.
 
Joern Aldag, President and Chief Executive Officer of Evotec OAI, said, "Our partnership with Roche in discovery chemistry has been highly successful, and was extended for a further two years in 2002. We are delighted that Roche has now also chosen us as their partner in the area of lead optimisation, which is a significant endorsement of our strategy of moving up the drug development value chain by integrating leading edge technologies to accelerate effective compound optimisation."
 
"We are excited that Evotec OAI will bring their many talents to bear on one of our important targets," commented David Heimbrook, Ph.D., Vice President and Global Therapy Area Head for Discovery Oncology at Roche. "The expansion of this relationship is due to an effective working relationship in which Evotec OAI has proven to be a reliable partner who generates high quality compounds for Roche."
 
About Evotec OAI AG
Evotec OAI has established itself as the partner of choice for drug discovery and development services for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies worldwide, maintaining its leadership role through innovation and unmatched customer service.
The Company's business strategy is clearly focused on drug discovery. It has established the most comprehensive technology platform and skills that integrate its world-class biology and chemistry capabilities. Evotec OAI leverages this discovery engine in providing assay development and screening through to compound optimisation and drug manufacturing services to a broad and well-established networof customers. In addition, the Company engages in selected discovery programmes itself to develop drug candidates for early out-licensing. Evotec OAI's instrument and technology business is now successfully handled by its affiliate, Evotec Technologies.
With over 600 people in Hamburg, Germany and Abingdon, UK, Evotec OAI is dedicated to returning value to its shareholders and employees through a sustainable business strategy that balances short-term and long-term revenue opportunities.
www.evotecoai.com
 
Roche Business Development and Alliance Strategy
Roche is a distinctive alliance partner with expertise in identifying cutting-edge innovation that can lead to new and improved medicines. Since January 2002, Roche has formed over 45 new partnerships which span a wide range of therapeutic areas and technologies, making it an industry leader. Through its alliance strategy, Roche creates value with its partners by transforming these business transactions into productive relationships that allow for mutual growth and expansion. This new agreement with Evotec OAI marks the third step in the companies' Growing relationship, which began in 2001 and was extended in 2002. In keeping with the Evotec OAI example, in the past year, seven other Roche partnerships have been extended or renewed. Roche is committed to an alliance strategy that enables its partners to achieve their vision while maintaining their cultural identity and entrepreneurial spirit.
 
About Roche
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, F. Hoffmann-La Roche (Roche) is one of the world's leading innovation-driven healthcare groups. Its core businesses are pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is number one in the global diagnostics market, the leading supplier of pharmaceuticals for cancer, and a leader in virology and transplantation. As a supplier of products and services for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, Roche contributes on a broad range of fronts to improving people's health and quality of life. Roche employs roughly 62,000 people in 150 countries. Roche has alliances and research and development agreements with numerous partners, including majority ownership interests in Genentech and Chugai. For more information, access our website at www.roche.com