HAMBURG, Germany, April 24, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Evotec AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange:EVT) (TecDAX) (ISIN:DE0005664809) today announced the successful achievement of a milestone in its biomarker alliance with Roche. The milestone was achieved on the decision by Roche to use a response prediction marker, identified using Evotec's Proteome Profiling platform, in an extended phase I oncology trial.
This is the first minor milestone achieved under the collaboration and licence agreement between Evotec and Roche, signed in 2011, which is part of the m4 Munich Biotech Cluster Personalized Medicine and Targeted Therapies initiative funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Under the initial three-year term, Evotec and Roche conduct biomarker discovery and validation programmes for patient stratification in targeted cancer therapy. Evotec is eligible for further success-based payments upon clinical companion diagnostics development.
Dr Mario Polywka, Chief Operating Officer of Evotec AG, commented: "We are delighted with receiving this milestone and the first validation of our novel biomarker concept with Roche. I would like to thank everyone involved in the project to date for the fantastic science they have developed and for the hard work and determination to see it succeed in a clinical setting."
About the Proteome Profiling platform
Evotec's Proteome Profiling platform employs high-end mass spectrometry to identify and quantify thousands of cellular proteins on a global scale. Unlike immunoassays, Proteome Profiling allows truly unbiased systems-wide investigation of protein expression in vivo. Comparative analysis of cellular proteomes not only supports target identification and mode-of-action studies but also enables the discovery of predictive biomarkers on the functional protein level.
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, Roche and UCB. 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.