DGAP-News

Evotec and Ohio State to collaborate on novel cancer therapy

DGAP-News: Evotec AG / Key word(s): Alliance
Evotec and Ohio State to collaborate on novel cancer therapy

22.12.2014 / 07:28

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*Collaboration leverages the breadth & experience of Evotec's drug
discovery infrastructure
*Efforts will explore the use of a novel approach, discovered at Ohio
State, for targeting mutant KRas

Hamburg, Germany - 22 December 2014: Evotec AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange:
EVT, TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809) today announced a research collaboration
with the laboratories of Prof. Roger Briesewitz at The Ohio State
University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital
and Richard J. Solove Research Institute ("OSUCCC - James").

The objective of the collaboration is to progress a novel mechanism for
engaging the KRas target discovered at The Ohio State University using
Evotec's technology platform and broad expertise in drug discovery and
pre-clinical development, thereby validating and progressing novel leads
into pharmaceutically developable candidates.

KRas is a small GTPase regulating the RAS/MAPK signalling cascade that
governs cell division. Mutations in KRas are early transforming events in
tumourigenesis and are highly prevalent in lethal cancers such as lung,
colon and pancreatic cancer. Addressing the challenging tractability of
this well-established oncology target, work conducted at Ohio State
provides a novel route to engage the target.

"Working and initiating a strategic dialogue with OSUCCC is a great
privilege for us, especially in such an important field in oncology.
Activating mutations of KRas are one of the most frequent genetic events in
cancers, and yet mutant KRas has long been considered an intractable drug
target. However, working with Roger and his team, we believe we have an
opportunity to attack this elusive target from a different angle with the
potential to deliver an exciting new anti-cancer therapeutic", said Dr
Werner Lanthaler, Chief Executive Officer of Evotec.

"Through this collaboration with Evotec, novel biological discoveries and
medical insights made at Ohio State will be effectively translated into a
state-of-the-art drug discovery project. The collaboration is already
demonstrating the benefit of an alliance in accelerating drug discovery
projects", said Dr Tim Wright, Founding Partner and Director Drug
Development Institute OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center James Cancer Hospital
& Solove Research Institute, Vice President, Technology Commercialization
Office.

ABOUT EVOTEC AG
Evotec is a drug discovery alliance and development partnership company