Hamburg, Germany, Vienna, Austria - 15 November 2012: Evotec AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, TecDAX) and Haplogen GmbH have signed a collaboration agreement to discover and develop small molecules against viral infectious diseases.

Under the agreement, Haplogen and Evotec will co-develop drugs against a  human protein that is essential for pathogenic viruses to infect their host cell. This protein was discovered by Haplogen's powerful proprietary technology to identify host factors for infectious human pathogens. Evotec will further develop Haplogen's lead compounds and apply its drug discovery platform to find additional small molecule inhibitors.

'This partnership will ensure that our therapeutic program advances with increasing pace to discover molecules for clinical testing in those patients that are at high risk of virus infections', says Georg Casari, CEO of Haplogen. 'We are excited that Evotec shares our vision and has joined forces on this first-in-class drug target.'

Mario Polywka, Chief Operating Officer of Evotec, explains: 'Part of Evotec's strategy is to pursue innovative, early stage projects and develop them to a partnering position before the clinic. We are delighted to partner with Haplogen to optimize their protein inhibitors.  Haplogen's powerful target discovery technology is an excellent complement to Evotec's small molecule discovery and development capabilities. We hope that this is the start of a long-term relationship.'

Terms of the partnership were not disclosed.

ABOUT HAPLOGEN GMBH

Haplogen GmbH is a privately held biotechnology company with an entirely novel target identification technology based on human haploid genetics and a drug discovery pipeline in infectious diseases. Haplogen's mission is to exploit human haploid genetics to improve human health.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Information set forth in this press release contains forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgement of Evotec as of the date of this report. Such forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.