Hamburg, Germany, 19 July 2018:
Evotec AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809) announced today that its multi-target alliance with Bayer in the field of endometriosis has advanced a promising small molecule into Phase II clinical development for the treatment of chronic cough, resulting in a payment of € 4 m to Evotec.

Chronic cough is a major global health burden and has a significant impact on the quality of life of millions of people. Currently, no therapies are approved for the treatment of chronic cough.

This new trial has been initiated following positive results from a Phase I study which is part of the ongoing Bayer-Evotec endometriosis alliance. The potential to treat patients with a persistent chronic cough was highlighted due to the nature and expression of the target protein being originally explored for the treatment of endometriosis. The clinical Phase I trial in healthy volunteers started in 2017 and has now advanced into Phase II trial in chronic cough in July 2018.

The Evotec-Bayer multi-target discovery alliance was entered in October 2012. The goal of this collaboration is to discover three clinical candidates within the alliance. Both parties contribute innovative drug targets and high-quality technology infrastructures and share the responsibility for early research and pre-clinical characterisation of potential clinical candidates in the disease area of endometriosis. Since the beginning of the collaboration, six first-in-class non-hormonal pre-clinical candidates have been generated; three of those progressed into Phase I clinical trials in endometriosis and chronic cough.

Dr Werner Lanthaler, Chief Executive Officer of Evotec, commented: “Since we began collaborating with Bayer in 2012, the joint teams have combined cutting-edge science, significant drug discovery expertise, and a shared commitment to bring new therapeutics options to the millions of patients. With the advancement of our first novel drug candidate into Phase II studies we continue to grow and build out our strong partnered pipeline. We look forward to further advancing our target portfolio across a developing range of potential therapeutic indications, especially for patients with unexplained chronic cough new and effective treatment options are urgently needed.”

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 press release. 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.