Under the terms of the drug discovery contract Evotec OAI will apply its integrated medicinal chemistry platform to optimise initial screening hits already identified by Axxima and rapidly progress them towards novel clinical candidates for clinical trials. Financial details of the collaboration were not disclosed.
 
"Signing this contract with Axxima is a further strong validation of the quality of our integrated medicinal chemistry offering," said Jörn Aldag, President and Chief Executive Officer of Evotec OAI. "We are delighted that Axxima chose us to support them in building strong intellectual property around one of their anti-infective targets."
 
"The chemistry expertise provided by Evotec OAI ideally complements our in-house medicinal chemistry programs," said Dr. Gerhard Müller, Chief Scientific Officer of Axxima. "The professionalism of their integrated medicinal chemistry platform qualifies Evotec OAI as an ideal long-term drug discovery partner to support us in progressing selected projects into promising clinical drug candidates."
 
About Evotec OAI AG
Evotec OAI has established itself as the partner of choice for drug discovery and development services for the world's premier pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, maintaining its leadership role through innovation and unmatched customer service.
The Company's business strategy is clearly focussed 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 net work of 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.
 
About Axxima Pharmaceuticals AG
Axxima Pharmaceuticals AG is a drug discovery and development company, pioneering the revolutionary approach of generating a "Signal Transduction Firewallâ" to combat infections, related disorders and diseases, such as inflammation. The most advanced projects include HIV, hepatitis C, tuberculosis and HCMV. By blocking critical signal transduction pathways required by pathogens for their survival, Axxima's compounds address entirely novel mechanisms for fighting resistance formation. Whereas the goal of conventional medications is to target the disease causing pathogen directly, the new generation of drugs developed by Axxima will prevent the pathogen hijacking the communication system of the cell for their own purposes. Tapping its pipeline, Axxima plans to out-license, sell or partner products at defined development stages to customers in the pharmaceutical industry. Typical products are compounds in pre-clinical or clinical development, optimized lead compounds or selected validated targets. Additionally, Axxima intends to partner its drug discovery technology in indications outside Axxima's core focus areas. In three private financing rounds Axxima has received a total of 56 million Euro from German and international investors. Lead investor of the third financing round was Bear Stearns Health Innoventures, New York. The previous financing rounds were led by Techno Venture Management of Munich, Germany. The Company currently employs a total staff of 90, located at Axxima's headquarters in Munich, Germany, and at its Hungarian subsidiary Vichem Kft. in Budapest. Further information about Axxima can be found at www.axxima.com.

Contact:
Axxima Pharmaceuticals AG
Max-Lebsche-Platz 32
D-81377 München
Dipl.-Biol. Arnd Prilipp
Manager Corporate Communications
Phone: +49.(0)89.55065-266
Fax: +49.(0)89.55065-255
arnd.prilipp@axxima.com  

Contact:
Axxima Pharmaceuticals AG
Max-Lebsche-Platz 32
D-81377 München
Dipl.-Biol. Arnd Prilipp
Manager Corporate Communications
Phone: +49.(0)89.55065-266
Fax: +49.(0)89.55065-255
arnd.prilipp@axxima.com