* Evotec-led platform open to academia, biotechnology and
pharmaceutical companies, foundations, and government agencies
* Evotec-Led platform expands current initiatives to accelerate
research and development ("R&D") of novel anti-infectives
* Sanofi to licence more than 10 infectious disease ("ID")
R&D assets to Evotec while retaining option rights for
development and commercialisation
* Transaction excludes Sanofi's vaccine R&D unit and related
projects
* Sanofi to transfer approximately 100 employees to Evotec
* Sanofi to provide support to Evotec including a one-time,
upfront payment of EUR 60 m to support success of Infectious
Disease assets
* Transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2018
Evotec AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, TecDAX, ISIN:
DE0005664809) and Sanofi have entered into exclusive negotiations
for Evotec to accelerate infectious disease research and
development through a new open innovation platform near Lyon,
France.
In support of this platform, Sanofi will licence most of its
infectious disease research and early-stage development portfolio
and transfer its infectious disease research unit to Evotec. The
transaction excludes the vaccine R&D unit and related projects.
Evotec will combine its drug discovery and development expertise
with these new assets and experts, committing to the expansion and
acceleration of anti-infective drug discovery and development
through open collaborations with other pharmaceutical and
biotechnology companies, foundations, academia, and government
agencies. More than 150 scientists within Evotec will be active in
this field.
Sanofi will pay Evotec an initial one-time cash upfront payment
of EUR 60 m and provide significant further long-term funding to
ensure support and progression of the portfolio. Sanofi will retain
certain option rights on the development, manufacturing, and
commercialisation of anti-infective products and will continue to
be involved in infectious disease through its vaccines research and
development and its global health programs. Under the agreement,
Evotec will integrate Sanofi's infectious disease research unit,
which includes more than 100 employees into its global drug
discovery and development operations. The transferred positions
will be associated with specific commitments of employment for 5
years and will continue to be based near Lyon, taking advantage of
the location's scientific and medical ecosystems.
Evotec will expand its existing long-term initiatives focused on
innovation to fight infectious diseases including the maintenance
of a portfolio of projects aimed at diseases affecting the
developing world. The focus of drug discovery will at the outset be
on new mode-of-action antimicrobials.
Dr Werner Lanthaler, Chief Executive Officer of Evotec, said:
"Since the acquisition of Euprotec (UK) in 2014, Evotec has had a
significant strategic interest and demonstrated expertise in
infectious diseases research, with an ambition to grow and become
the drug discovery and development leader in this space together
with its partners. We are pleased to be working and expanding our
strategic relationship with Sanofi, which has a long history in
providing novel anti-infective agents to markets globally. Finding
a way to motivate more public funding and academic initiatives for
the progress of novel anti-infectives on Evotec's platform will be
a key success factor for this initiative."
"Sanofi has a long and established history in the fight against
infectious diseases, and we remain committed to addressing global
health challenges through our development efforts and vaccines",
says Dr Elias Zerhouni, President Global R&D for Sanofi.
"Research in the field of anti-infectives is an area where building
critical mass through partnering is particularly important. This
new French-based open innovation center will benefit from the high
quality science ecosystem. Evotec is a trusted partner in drug
discovery and has the ambition and capacity to become a real leader
in the fight against infectious diseases."
This transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2018,
subject to finalisation of definitive agreements and completion of
the appropriate social process. This project will be conducted in
full respect of social dialogue with employee's
representatives.
ABOUT INFECTIOUS DISEASES Infectious diseases are caused by
bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites and can be spread, directly
or indirectly, from one person to another. Treatments for
infectious diseases include antibiotics and anti-viral medications.
Today, infectious diseases propagated by bacteria are becoming
increasingly resistant to many antibiotics and any use of
antibiotics reduces the effectiveness of these drugs for other
patients. The World Health Organization ("WHO") has deemed
antibiotic resistance to be one of the three greatest threats to
human health today. Almost a million people die of resistant
infections a year. It is also estimated that by 2050, 10 million
lives a year and a cumulative 100 trillion dollars of economic
output are at risk due to the rise of drug resistant infections if
solutions to this problem are not identified now. Thus, there is a
critical need to research and develop medical solutions to combat
antibiotic resistant bacteria.
Webcast/Conference Call Evotec invites you to join a conference
call to provide information regarding this major alliance with
Sanofi. The conference will be held in English.
Conference call details Date: Thursday, 08 March 2018 Time: 2.00
pm CET (1.00 pm GMT, 8.00 am EST)
From France +33 170750705 From Germany: +49 (69) 22 22 29 043
From Italy: +39 0236013806 From UK: +44 2030092452 From USA: +1
8554027766 Access Code: 37969784#
A simultaneous slide presentation for participants dialling in
via phone is available at http://www.audio-webcast.com/ password:
evotec080318. Webcast details To join the audio webcast and to
access the presentation slides you will find a link on our home
page www.evotec.com shortly before the event. A replay of the
conference call will be available for 24 hours and can be accessed
in Europe by dialling +49 69 22 22 33 985 (Germany) and+33 170 750
767 (France), +44 20 3426 2807 (UK) and in the US by dialling +1
866 535 8030. The access code is 654573#. The on-demand version of
the webcast will be available on our website:
https://www.evotec.com/article/en/Investors/Financial-Reports-2015-2017/188/6
ABOUT SANOFI Sanofi is dedicated to supporting people through
their health challenges. We are a global biopharmaceutical company
focused on human health. We prevent illness with vaccines, provide
innovative treatments to fight pain and ease suffering. We stand by
the few who suffer from rare diseases and the millions with
long-term chronic conditions. With more than 100,000 people in 100
countries, Sanofi is transforming scientific innovation into
healthcare solutions around the globe. Sanofi, Empowering Life
Media Relations Contact Jean-Baptiste Froville Tel.: +33 (0)1 53
77 46 46 mr@sanofi.com
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, academics, patient advocacy groups and
venture capitalists. We operate worldwide providing the highest
quality stand-alone and integrated drug discovery solutions,
covering all activities from target-to-clinic to meet the
industry's need for innovation and efficiency in drug discovery
(EVT Execute). 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, diabetes
and complications of diabetes, pain and inflammation, oncology and
infectious diseases. On this basis, Evotec has built a broad and
deep pipeline of more than 80 partnered product opportunities at
clinical, pre-clinical and discovery stages (EVT Innovate). Evotec
has established multiple long-term discovery alliances with
partners including Bayer, CHDI, Sanofi or UCB and development
partnerships with e.g. with Sanofi in the field of diabetes, with
Pfizer in the field of tissue fibrosis and Celgene in the field of
neurodegenerative diseases. For additional information please go to
www.evotec.com and follow us on Twitter @EvotecAG.
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.
Language: English Company: Evotec AG Manfred Eigen Campus /
Essener Bogen 7 22419 Hamburg Germany Phone: +49 (0)40 560 81-0
Fax: +49 (0)40 560 81-222 E-mail: info@evotec.com Internet:
www.evotec.com ISIN: DE0005664809 WKN: 566480 Indices: TecDAX
Listed: Regulated Market in Berlin, Frankfurt (Prime Standard);
Regulated Unofficial Market in Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover,
Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180307006509/en/
Evotec AGGabriele HansenVP Corporate Communications &
Investor RelationsPhone:
+49.(0)40.56081-255gabriele.hansen@evotec.com