Hamburg, Germany / Abingdon, UK - Evotec OAI AG, Hamburg, Germany (Neuer Markt: EVT), a supplier of integrated high-value added drug discovery services, today announced that its new generation of ultra-high- throughput screening systems EVOscreen® Mark III passed the factory acceptance testing (FAT) with GlaxoSmithKline. During a period of three weeks several functional, robustness and precision tests were performed followed by three assays screened on the system for two weeks. The results achieved in terms of robustness, precision and data quality were excellent and significantly exceeded the agreed pass criteria.
 
In addition, Evotec OAI also successfully achieved the milestone for single modules of Mark III and external components tested separately, including Evotec OAI's four-channel reader and the high-throughput imaging reader OPERA for cellular assays.
 
"We are proud about the excellent screening results achieved in this very exciting project. It was a remarkable team effort and I want to thank all employees involved at Evotec OAI and GlaxoSmithKline for their continued support," said Dr Timm Jessen, Chief Scientific Officer of Evotec OAI. "We again demonstrated our ability to successfully complete such a complex project with the help of our experience in drug discovery technologies in close collaboration with our long-term partner GlaxoSmithKline."
 
The new generation of EVOscreen® technology, EVOscreen® Mark III, builds on the success of the Mark II design.  Mark III, however, integrates a series of important technological advances. Evotec OAI's proprietary four channel reader as well as parallel dispensing of micropumps allow to increase the throughput of Mark III to well above 100,000 tests per day. The integration of a special cell dispensing unit and our high throughput imaging reader OPERA makes the system also suited for the performance of cellular assays. In addition, an open system architecture simplifies the use of external components giving Evotec OAI the flexibility to stay on the cutting edge of screening technology combining its own developments with standard external solutions.
 
About Evotec OAI
Evotec OAI offers the full range of high-value added products and services required to discover and develop drugs more effectively and efficiently.  By integrating accelerated methods in biology, chemistry and screening, the Company has established a unique position as a one-stop-shop for all the critical elements in the drug discovery research and development process from target to clinical development. More than 570 people are based in Hamburg, Germany and Abingdon, U.K.  Evotec OAI already has close links with many of the leading companies in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries including Novartis, Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Aventis, Pharmacia/Sugen, Bayer, BMS, Roche, Amgen, Biogen, Vertex, Serono and Immunex.  The Company's shares are listed on the Neuer Markt of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.