Evotec and LEO Pharma Form Drug Discovery Alliance Targeting Dermatological Conditions

Evotec AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, MDAX/TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809) announced a new integrated drug discovery alliance with LEO Pharma, a global leader in medical dermatology. The collaboration goal is to generate new leads against innovative targets for a range of dermatological conditions and initially runs for two years.

The collaboration leverages Evotec’s industry-leading hit identification platform including the extensive screening, structural biology and fragment-based drug design capabilities and expertise together with LEO Pharma’s 110-year track record of drug development and advancing science in dermatology. Evotec’s integrated discovery scientists will work in a joint team with scientists from LEO Pharma. The alliance will receive further support with high-value drug development and discovery ADME-Tox services.

Dr Mario Polywka, Chief Operating Officer of Evotec, commented: “We are delighted to partner with LEO Pharma on this exciting project, which leverages our industry-leading hit generation platform. Working together, we are convinced we will find innovative therapeutic approaches to dermatological conditions with a high unmet medical need.”

Dr Thorsten Thormann, Vice President, Research at LEO Pharma, said: “Innovation through partnerships plays a key role in LEO Pharma’s approach to developing new medicines. We are confident that our alliance with Evotec will further strengthen our research and help us expedite the discovery of novel small molecule therapeutics for skin diseases, for which there are large unmet medical needs, thus helping even more patients in the future.”

No financial details of this fee-for-service collaboration were disclosed.

 ABOUT LEO PHARMA

LEO Pharma helps people achieve healthy skin. The company is a leader in medical dermatology with a robust R&D pipeline, a wide range of therapies and a pioneering spirit. Founded in 1908 and owned by the LEO Foundation, LEO Pharma has devoted decades of research and development to advance the science of dermatology, setting new standards of care for people with skin conditions. LEO Pharma is headquartered in Denmark with a global team of 5,700 people, serving 80 million patients in 130 countries. In 2017, the company generated net sales of euro 1.4 billion.

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.