• JOINT DRUG DISCOVERY PROJECTS COMBINE CENTOGENE’S PATIENT ACCESS AND BIOMARKER EXPERTISE WITH EVOTEC’S LEADING IPSC PLATFORM

Hamburg, Rostock, Germany, 27 August 2018: Evotec AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809) today announced that CENTOGENE AG, the worldwide leader in elucidating rare disease genetics for patients, clinicians and pharmaceutical partners, and Evotec entered into a global strategic collaboration agreement for joint drug discovery projects, developing compounds to treat rare genetic diseases.

Evotec and CENTOGENE initiated the collaboration to develop a strategic high-throughput platform for testing novel small molecules in rare hereditary metabolic diseases.

The collaboration brings together Evotec’s leading induced pluripotent stem cell (“iPSC”) platform and broad drug discovery capabilities with CENTOGENE’s unique medical and genetic insights. In particular, detailed genotype-phenotype data enables rapid biomarker development using patient primary cells.

Dr Cord Dohrmann, Chief Scientific Officer of Evotec, commented: “The collaboration between Evotec and CENTOGENE is focused on developing iPSC-based patient-derived disease models and suitable biomarkers for rare genetic diseases. A perfect match between highly complementary platforms and companies with the potential to open a new chapter in the translatability of pre-clinical discovery efforts into clinic benefits.”

“The identification and development of innovative small molecules to treat rare, hereditary conditions is particularly challenging because of the absence of adequate cellular models and the general lack of specific biomarkers to monitor the different diseases. With this innovative collaboration between Evotec and CENTOGENE, we can accelerate the development of new drugs. CENTOGENE is fully committed to explore any given opportunity to discover new ways of helping patients and their families, together with its partners”, said Dr Arndt Rolfs, CEO of CENTOGENE.

No financial details were disclosed. 

ABOUT CENTOGENE

CENTOGENE unlocks the power of genetic insights to improve the quality of life of patients with genetic rare diseases. We achieve this through knowledge created by our worldwide diagnostic testing services incorporating global diversity, the world’s leading proprietary human genetic interpretation database, CentoMD® and solutions for pharmaceutical companies developing life-changing orphan drugs. As one of the most diversified and largest genetic testing companies worldwide, CENTOGENE is dedicated to transforming the science of genetic information into solutions and hope for patients and their families. www.centogene.com; www.centoMD.com.

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.