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• Second collaboration milestone achieved
• Evotec OAI's cell analyzer "Opera" to be integrated into ALTANA Pharma's drug discovery platform

Hamburg, Germany | Abingdon, UK - Evotec OAI AG, Hamburg, Germany (Neuer Markt: EVT), a partner for integrated high-value-added drug discovery to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, announced today the successful completion of its assay development programme with ALTANA Pharma AG, Konstanz, Germany.
 
In close collaboration with scientists at ALTANA Pharma Evotec OAI has developed a new and complex assay programme using Evotec OAI's novel confocal imaging reader for fast high-content cell analysis ("Opera"). In March Evotec OAI passed the first milestone by successfully demonstrating a novel assay principle. Phase II, the assay optimisation, has now been completed which is proving Evotec OAI's expertise in miniaturised assay development and related technology developments. ALTANA Pharma will receive the cell analyzer "Opera" by the end of the year and will integrate it into their discovery unit. As a result of an excellent collaboration to date, ALTANA Pharma decided to commission Evotec OAI to add additional features to the device, further enhancing the capabilities of the instrument.
 
Joern Aldag, President and Chief Executive Officer of Evotec OAI, said: "We are pleased to have completed this challenging programme with excellent results and to have contributed innovative tools to our partner's drug discovery efforts. This collaboration validates our world class expertise in developing novel drug discovery solutions tailored to our customers' research needs."
 
Dr. U. Thibaut, ALTANA Pharma's Vice President of Discovery Research, said: "Our partnership with Evotec OAI is highly satisfactory. The communication in this important collaboration is open and the scientific standards of the project are very high. The assay development programme we started together with Evotec OAI was highly successful and will help us to further reduce assay development times significantly. In addition, the programme also demonstrated the excellent performance of the "Opera" reader, which will be integrated into one of our HTS systems."
 
About Evotec OAI AG
Evotec OAI offers a comprehensive range of high-value added services and products required to increase the efficiency and at the same time reduce the risk in the identification of new drugs. By integrating proprietary state-of-the-art technologies and processes in biology, chemistry and screening, the Company has established a unique position for all the critical elements in the drug discovery and development process - from target to clinical development. Due to its extensive know how and experience Evotec OAI is the ideal partner for pharma and biotech companies world-wide. To date, Evotec OAI has completed over 1,200 projects with 150 companies, including all of the top 20 global pharmaceutical companies and major biotechs.
The Company employs more than 600 people, primarily at its two main sites at Hamburg in Germany and Abingdon in the UK. Subsidiaries are located in Europe and North America. In 2001 Evotec OAI achieved revenues of EUR 63.2 million. Evotec OAI shares are listed on the Neuer Markt of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since November 1999 (NM: EVT).

About ALTANA Pharma AG
ALTANA AG (NYSE:AAA) is an international pharmaceuticals and chemicals Group with sales of EUR 2.3 billion in 2001 and over 9,000 employees all around the world. It is the strategic management holding company of the ALTANA Group, comprising two operating Divisions, ALTANA Pharma AG and ALTANA Chemie AG.
The pharmaceutical division ALTANA Pharma AG is an international Group with around 30 subsidiaries and affiliates in Europe, the Americas, South Africa, Australia and Asia. ALTANA Pharma AG concentrates on therapeutics, imaging (contrast media), in-vitro diagnostics and OTC medication, and focuses on innovative pharmaceutical research (gastroenterology, respiratory, oncology).
In 2001, ALTANA Pharma AG achieved sales of EUR 1.6 billion, i.e. up 26% year-on-year.
Therapeutics, the most important area of business, is based on prescription drugs for respiratory, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal indications.
Pantoprazole, used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, is ALTANA Pharma's best-selling drug, generating worldwide sales of EUR 1.3 billion in 2001.
ALTANA Pharma AG employs around 7,500 people worldwide, of which around 3,000 work in Germany.