Hamburg, Germany, 24 June 2024:
Evotec SE (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, MDAX/TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809; NASDAQ: EVO) today announced that the University of Bristol has been granted an award within the framework of the beLAB1407 BRIDGE partnership to develop a novel antisense oligonucleotide (“ASO”) based treatment for atherosclerosis, the leading cause of cardiovascular diseases.

beLAB1407, one of Evotec’s global portfolio of BRIDGE partnerships, was launched in 2021 by Evotec and collaborating partners to identify and advance novel and breakthrough drug discovery opportunities across multiple therapeutic areas. In 2023 beLAB1407 expanded to include the University of Bristol, the University of Glasgow, and Queen Mary University of London, leveraging Evotec’s multimodality platform to validate innovative drug discovery concepts.

The award focuses on the development and validation of an innovative therapy targeting a key genetic factor in immune cell regulation, providing the potential to modulate inflammatory responses and lipid metabolism, thereby influencing the progression and stability of atherosclerotic plaque.

Dr Thomas Hanke, EVP Head of Academic Partnerships at Evotec, said: “We are very pleased to support the University of Bristol’s first project under beLAB1407, recognising the urgent need for innovative cardiovascular disease treatments. The University of Bristol is a proven source of high-quality research to elucidate new therapeutic targets, platforms and candidates. We are confident that together we can make a real difference for patients affected by cardiovascular diseases.”

Prof Jason Johnson, Professor of Cardiovascular Pathology at the University of Bristol, added: “We are very proud to receive this unique award within the scope of the beLAB1407 BRIDGE partnership, which will allow us to develop a therapeutic to target this novel target and validate its use in patients with heart disease. Working together with Evotec, we will develop an effective drug that could play a significant role in reducing one of the key factors in cardiovascular diseases.”

About cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis
Cardiovascular diseases, affecting the heart and blood vessels, top the list of global causes of death, responsible for 17.9 million fatalities annually, representing 32% of all worldwide deaths. The most common origin of cardiovascular disease is atherosclerosis, the buildup of lipid deposits in arterial walls. Atherosclerosis is characterised by plaque formation consisting of lipids, cholesterol, blood components, calcium, and other substances within arteries. This process is driven by immune cells, specifically monocytes and macrophages, which are crucial in plaque formation and progression. Over time, this leads to arterial thickening and hardening, restricting blood flow and potentially resulting in severe complications such as heart attacks, strokes, and peripheral artery disease.

About antisense oligonucleotides
Antisense oligonucleotides (“ASOs”) are precisely engineered chemical structures designed to bind and degrade targeted mRNA, thereby disrupting gene expression. By selectively inhibiting the production of disease-driving proteins within the cells of interest, ASOs offer a novel approach to address targets that are challenging to regulate or were previously considered “undruggable”.

About Evotec’s BRIDGE model: Partnering to accelerate innovation
Evotec has created a new paradigm to translate early-stage academic research to drug discovery and development called “BRIDGE” (Biomedical Research, Innovation & Development Generation Efficiency), an integrated accelerator-by-award framework to tap into academic science to accelerate the formation of spin-out companies and generate collaborations with Pharma and biotech. Through these efforts, Evotec has defined a new formula to fast-track early-stage drug discovery. Since the launch of the BRIDGE model in 2016, Evotec has formed and funded a growing number of strategic collaborations, such as LAB282, LAB150, Danube Labs, beLAB2122, beLAB1407, LAB eN² and 65LAB, as well as investments into start-up studios focused on academic innovation such as Autobahn-Labs, Argobio and Extend. Please visit www.evotec.com/en/innovate/bridges to learn more about Evotec’s BRIDGEs.

About Evotec SE
Evotec is a life science company with a unique business model that delivers on its mission to discover and develop highly effective therapeutics and make them available to the patients. The Company’s multimodality platform comprises a unique combination of innovative technologies, data and science for the discovery, development, and production of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical products. Evotec provides high value pipeline co-creating partnerships and solutions to all Top 20 Pharma and over 800 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, as well as other healthcare stakeholders. Evotec has strategic activities in a broad range of currently underserved therapeutic areas, including e.g. neurology, oncology, as well as metabolic and infectious diseases. Within these areas of expertise, Evotec aims to create the world-leading co-owned pipeline for innovative therapeutics and has to-date established a portfolio of more than 200 proprietary and co-owned R&D projects from early discovery to clinical development. Evotec operates globally with more than 5,000 highly qualified people. The Company’s sites in Europe and the USA offer highly synergistic technologies and services and operate as complementary clusters of excellence. For additional information please go to www.evotec.com and follow us on X/Twitter @Evotec and LinkedIn.

Forward-looking statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements concerning future events, including the proposed offering and listing of Evotec’s securities. Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “should,” “target,” “would” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements include comments regarding Evotec’s expectations for revenues, Group EBITDA and unpartnered R&D expenses. These forward-looking statements are based on the information available to, and the expectations and assumptions deemed reasonable by Evotec at the time these statements were made. No assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates, which are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of Evotec. Evotec expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Evotec’s expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.