- Expanding discovery pipeline with portfolio of projects especially in Multiple Sclerosis and CNS
- Appointment of Dr Timm Jessen as "EVP Business Development EVT Innovate" to further enhance translation capabilities
HAMBURG, Germany, March 24, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Evotec AG (Frankfurt:EVT) (TecDAX) (ISIN:DE0005664809) today announced the acquisition of the Germany-based Bionamics GmbH. Bionamics is an asset management company that focuses on the translation of academic innovations into attractive assets for the biotech and Pharma industry. The transaction comprises the acquisition of all shares of Bionamics against cash and future milestone payments. Next to an experienced management team Bionamics brings a portfolio of highly attractive and fully funded projects especially in neurodegeneration and CNS to Evotec.
Further financial details of the transaction remain undisclosed.
Dr Werner Lanthaler, Chief Executive Officer of Evotec, said: "With the acquisition of Bionamics we accelerate our EVT Innovate strategy and enlarge our reach towards outstanding innovations. We welcome the openness of Bionamics to join the discovery infrastructure of Evotec. We are also very happy to welcome Dr Timm Jessen back at Evotec. In his new management role, Dr Jessen will be responsible for the commercialisation of "EVT Innovate" projects."
Dr Timm Jessen, Managing Director of Bionamics GmbH, commented: "We highly value Evotec's strategic appreciation of our work and its success as demonstrated e.g. in managing the NEU² programme, a consortium of academic, biotech and Pharma partners focussing on novel products to treat Multiple Sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases. The combination of our management skills with Evotec's strong operational capabilities offers a unique constellation for researchers and entrepreneurs around the globe to accelerate their innovation together with us. I very much look forward to expand this concept further within the Evotec Group."
ABOUT BIONAMICS
Bionamics GmbH is an asset management company in Hamburg, Germany, bridging the gap between excellent research projects and the industry´s need for pre-clinical and clinical development programmes. The company was founded in 2006 and currently employs three employees. Bionamics has set up and manages NEU² (www.neu-quadrat.de), a consortium established to generate new treatment options in neurodegenerative diseases and supported by public funds of up to EUR 40 Mio. Before founding Bionamics Timm Jessen was the CSO of Evotec AG from 1997 to 2004.
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 Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, CHDI, Genentech, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, MedImmune/AstraZeneca and Ono Pharmaceutical. In addition, the Company has existing development partnerships and product candidates both in clinical and pre-clinical development. These include partnerships with Boehringer Ingelheim, MedImmune and Andromeda in the field of diabetes, with Janssen Pharmaceuticals in the field of depression and with Roche in the field of Alzheimer's disease. For additional information please go to www.evotec.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 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.