HAMBURG, Germany I July 24, 2017 I Evotec AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809) announced today that its multi-target endometriosis alliance with Bayer has advanced a programme from the alliance portfolio into Phase I clinical development for the treatment of endometriosis, triggering a milestone payment to Evotec.

Evotec also announced today that both companies have agreed to extend this multi-target endometriosis alliance until the end of 2018. The companies entered into the alliance in October 2012 with the aim to identify three clinical candidates over a five-year period. The alliance has successfully developed an industry leading endometriosis portfolio and will now aim to identify a total of four clinical candidates.

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. Bayer is responsible for subsequent clinical development and commercialisation while Evotec is eligible for clinical and sales milestones as well as royalties on net sales depending on the successful development and approval of a potential drug candidate.

Dr Mario Polywka, Chief Operating Officer of Evotec, commented: “We are proud to have achieved this important milestone as it represents the second compound to progress into FiM (“First-in-Man”) studies. Bringing together our complementary strengths and expertise in one team, we have established a first-in-class endometriosis portfolio of targets for the discovery of promising new medicines. Further projects within the multi-target collaboration are progressing very well and we are looking forward to continued success.”

ABOUT ENDOMETRIOSIS

Endometriosis affects an estimated 176 million women worldwide or 10% of women of reproductive age. It is caused by the abnormal growth of tissue similar to that which lines the uterus (endometrial tissue) in locations outside of the uterine cavity, where it causes ectopic lesion growth and debilitating pain. Endometrial growth is commonly found on the ovaries and pelvic peritoneum, potentially involving other organs of the pelvic cavity as e.g. bladder, bowel, and the rectovaginal space. There is no known cure for endometriosis and most available drug treatments have certain limitations. Endometriosis is a highly complex and heterogeneous disease and there is still a high unmet medical need for innovative therapies which address the individual needs of affected women. The disease can greatly impact a woman’s social, professional and personal life, and women with endometriosis often experience a higher incidence of depression and emotional distress due to the uncertainty of diagnosis, unpredictability of symptoms and living a normal life. Find more information at http://endometriosisfoundation.org or http://endometriosis-league.eu/en.

ABOUT EVOTEC AG

Evotec is a drug discovery alliance and development partnership company focused on rapidly progressing innovative product approaches with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academics, patient advocacy groups and venture capitalists. We operate worldwide providing the highest quality stand-alone and integrated drug discovery solutions, covering all activities from target-to-clinic to meet the industry’s need for innovation and efficiency in drug discovery (EVT Execute). The Company has established a unique position by assembling top-class scientific experts and integrating state-of-the-art technologies as well as substantial experience and expertise in key therapeutic areas including neuroscience, diabetes and complications of diabetes, pain and inflammation, oncology and infectious diseases. On this basis, Evotec has built a broad and deep pipeline of more than 70 partnered product opportunities at clinical, pre-clinical and discovery stages (EVT Innovate). Evotec has established multiple long-term discovery alliances with partners including Bayer, CHDI, Sanofi or UCB and development partnerships with e.g. with Sanofi in the field of diabetes, with Pfizer in the field of tissue fibrosis and Celgene in the field of neurodegenerative diseases. For additional information please go to www.evotec.com and follow us on Twitter @EvotecAG.

SOURCE: Evotec