HAMBURG, Germany, Feb. 16, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Evotec AG (Frankfurt:EVT) (TecDAX) and IR Pharma today announced that they have entered into an exclusive strategic alliance to provide integrated drug discovery solutions to Pharmaceutical and Biotech companies in the field of Respiratory Diseases.
This alliance expands Evotec's already powerful drug discovery platform, into the area of respiratory diseases through IR Pharma's world leading expertise in in vitro and in vivo Respiratory pharmacology. As part of this exclusive collaboration, Evotec is now positioned to offer seamless, fully integrated respiratory and inflammation focused drug discovery programmes to its partners, from target to nomination of pre-clinical development candidates.
Dr Mario Polywka, Chief Operating Officer at Evotec AG, commented: "We are looking forward to partner with IR Pharma and are excited about the potential of this alliance. IR Pharma has outstanding expertise in the respiratory disease area including disease relevant in vivo models and coupled with our world leading discovery engine and commercial reach, we are sure we can bring outstanding value to existing and future partners and collaborators in these demanding disease areas. This co-operation is a significant addition to our strategy to offer the most comprehensive drug discovery solutions to our partners."
Prof Maria Belvisi, Director at IR Pharma Ltd, added: "We are delighted to join forces with Evotec and firmly believe that together, we will provide efficient and innovative drug discovery solutions to our partners. We have a range of highly validated models, focusing on Asthma, Cough and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), which ideally complement Evotec's platform, thus enabling a fully integrated approach to drug discovery in this challenging area."
No financial details were disclosed.
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. We operate worldwide providing the highest quality stand-alone and integrated drug discovery solutions, covering all activities from target-to-clinic. 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, pain, metabolic diseases as well as oncology and inflammation. Evotec has long-term discovery alliances with partners including Boehringer Ingelheim, CHDI, Genentech, Medimmune/Astra Zeneca, and Ono Pharmaceutical. In addition, the Company has existing development partnerships and product candidates both in clinical and preclinical development. These include partnerships with Boehringer Ingelheim, MedImmune and Andromeda (Teva) in the field of diabetes, and with Roche in the field of Alzheimer's disease. For additional information please go to www.evotec.com.
About IR PHARMA LTD
IR Pharma provides the pharmaceutical industry with Respiratory Pharmacology pre-clinical drug discovery through short, focused projects and larger, wide ranging system-based discovery programmes. Timely delivery of study objectives that add value to client lead compounds and technology are high priority for the Company. Based on the world leading academic expertise of the Respiratory Pharmacology group at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, led by Professor Maria Belvisi and Dr Mark Birrell, the team, additionally can boast an extensive industry background. They have been providing an outstanding combination of scientific insights and practical solutions to address the pre-clinical needs of industry clients for several years.
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.