Hamburg, Germany | Oxford, UK | Lexington, MA, USA - Evotec OAI AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, TecDAX 30), a leading partner for integrated high-value-added drug discovery and development solutions to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, and ActivBiotics Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company developing novel antibacterials, announced today that they have entered into a joint drug discovery project. Evotec OAI will apply its newly established rational drug design platform, EVOrationale(TM), to one of ActivBiotics' high profile anti-infective lead optimisation programmes.
 
Evotec OAI, through its integrated EVOrationale(TM) platform is well positioned to assist customers in delivering de novo structure determination, validation of screening hits and structure guided lead optimisation programmes. Over the past months, Evotec OAI has successfully applied the new platform to a range of targets including kinases, GPCRs, proteases, enzymes and more complex protein-ligand interactions.
 
Dr Michael Lutz, Senior VP of Marketing at Evotec OAI, said: "Since our recent launch of the EVOrationale(TM) platform, we see strong interest from the pharma and biotech industry to enhance their medicinal chemistry programmes through early integration of rational drug design approaches. We are delighted that ActivBiotics has chosen us as their partner to support their research efforts towards the discovery of novel antibiotics."
 
Dr Ronnie Farquhar, VP of Discovery and Pre-Clinical Development at ActivBiotics added: "We regard protein crystallography a valuable technology that should provide additional insights into the SAR of our novel antibacterial compounds. After evaluation of alternative partners, we believe that Evotec OAI is the best choice to assist our structural biology initiative."
 
About Evotec OAI AG
Evotec OAI has established itself as the partner of choice for drug discovery and development solutions for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies worldwide, 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 network 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 Oxfordshire, 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
 
 About ActivBiotics, Inc.
ActivBiotics is a privately held, clinical stage pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel antibiotics for the treatment of a wide range of infectious diseases. The lead compound, rifalazil, is a next generation rifamycin derivative currently in two Phase II trials. The company expects to have 1-2 additional compounds in clinical trials in the next 12-18 months. The current goal of ActivBiotics is to become a leader in treatment of infectious diseases through the development of novel derivatives of the rifamycin class of antibiotics into a major therapeutic category. Additional information can be found at the Company's web site at www.activbiotics.com.
 

Contact: Anne Hennecke, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications, Evotec OAI AG, Phone: +49-40-56081-286, anne.hennecke@evotecoai.com
Contact: Anne Hennecke, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications, Evotec OAI AG, Phone: +49-40-56081-286, anne.hennecke@evotecoai.com