Evotec and Roche agree to develop compound that could slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease

Monday, 05. September 2011 20:01
Evotec AG /
Evotec and Roche agree to develop compound that could slow the progression of
Alzheimer's disease
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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Hamburg, Germany - 5 September 2011: Evotec AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT,
TecDAX) and Roche AG (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today that they have
entered into an exclusive worldwide agreement for the development and
commercialization of Evotec's MAO-B inhibitor in patients with Alzheimer's
disease (AD).
Under the terms of the agreement, Roche will pay Evotec an upfront fee of $10
million. Evotec could receive further development and commercial milestone
payments of up to $820 million as well as tiered double-digit royalties on
sales. Roche will initiate studies in 2012 to demonstrate proof of concept and
will be responsible for all clinical development, manufacturing and
commercialization activities.
Evotec's compound (EVT 302) is a novel, potent inhibitor of monoamine oxidase
type B (MAO-B), an enzyme that breaks down the chemical messenger dopamine in
the brain and contributes to the production of free radicals.  Free radicals are
known to cause oxidative stress which may contribute to pathogenesis of AD as
demonstrated by the up-regulation of MAO-B expression in the brain of AD
patients. For these reasons, the selective MAO-B inhibitor is targeted to treat
AD symptoms and potentially slow disease progression.
The compound, which will be entering clinical studies in AD, was originally
licensed from Roche to Evotec in 2006, and initially developed in another
indication.
Commenting on the deal, Jean-Jacques Garaud, Head of Roche Pharma Research &
Early Development, said: "Roche is committed to bringing innovative treatments
to patients suffering from devastating neurodegenerative diseases, and is
developing a number of approaches to tackle Alzheimer's. The addition of EVT-
302 to our CNS pipeline complements other approaches we are investigating
including tau- and amyloid- targeted therapies."
Dr Werner Lanthaler, CEO of Evotec said: "We are delighted to have Roche as our
strategic partner to fight Alzheimer's disease. Their outstanding commitment to
pharmaceutical innovation makes Roche the ideal partner to fight one of the
biggest healthcare problems of our times."
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia and, according to the
World Health Organisation is affecting around 35 million people worldwide.
During the course of the disease, protein plaques appear in the brain, leading
to the death of brain cells. No single factor has been identified as the cause
for Alzheimer's disease.
Evotec changes its revenue guidance for 2011 from €70-72 m to €77-79 m and
increases its 2011 year-end liquidity target to above € 60 m.
Evotec invites you to join a conference call announcing the license agreement to
Roche
Details of the Conference Call:

Tuesday 6 September 2011 at


1.00 p.m. CET
12.00 p.m. BST
4.00 a.m. PDT / 7.00 a.m. EDT
Dial-in Numbers:
Europe:
+49 69 58 999 0805 (Germany)
+44-207-153-2027 (UK)
US: +1-480-629-9870
Pass Code:  4470251
A simultaneous slide presentation for participants dialing in via phone is
available at www.equitystory.com, password:
evotec060911. You can also listen to the conference call via audio webcast
including presentation slides atwww.evotec.com.
If you are unable to attend, a recording will be available for 24 hours after
the call at the following phone numbers: +49 69 58 99 90 568 (Germany),
+44 207 154 2833 (UK), +1 303 590 3030 (US). The access code is 4470251#. The
on-demand version of the webcast will be available on our website:
http://www.evotec.com - Investors/Events/Financial Calendar.



MAO-B inhibition and Alzheimer's Disease

Evotec's MAO-B inhibitor programme (EVT 302) is an orally active, selective and
reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B). It has favourable
preclinical profiles, was well tolerated and showed excellent pharmacokinetic
properties in Phase I studies. Evotec has demonstrated in a clinical study that
the very high selectivity of this compound for MAO-B avoids the potential
adverse interaction with dietary tyramine that is associated with less selective
compounds. MAO-B activity results in the production of free radicals causing
oxidative stress which may contribute to the pathogenesis of AD where its
expression is strongly up-regulated. Evotec in-licensed the compound from Roche
in January 2006 when it had completed a first Phase I study. Evotec initiated
the regulatory process in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease based on the
clinical progress and a very favourable safety profile in 2009.



Contact Evotec AG:

Dr Werner Lanthaler, Chief Executive Officer, Phone: +49.(0)40.56081-242,
werner.lanthaler@evotec.com

Roche Partnering
Sharon Valdettaro
+41 -61 688 9655
+41 79 5590084
sharon.valdettaro@roche.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.




--- End of Message ---

Evotec AG
Schnackenburgallee 114 Hamburg Germany

WKN: 566480;ISIN: DE0005664809;
Listed: Freiverkehr in Börse Stuttgart,
Freiverkehr in Hanseatische Wertpapierbörse zu Hamburg,
Freiverkehr in Börse Berlin,
Freiverkehr in Börse Düsseldorf,
Freiverkehr in Bayerische Börse München,
Freiverkehr in Niedersächsische Börse zu Hannover,
Prime Standard in Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse,
Regulierter Markt in Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse;


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