• Collaboration is focused on first-in-class therapies to treat dermatological diseases
  • Collaboration leverages a novel approach to disrupt cell signalling, validated by EVT Innovate evotec press release-10-4

Hamburg, Germany; Barcelona, Spain, 17 September 2018:
Evotec AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809) and  Almirall, S.A. (Spanish Stock Exchange. ticker: ALM) today announced that they have entered into a research collaboration to discover and develop first-in-class therapeutics through a novel approach to disrupt cell signalling, that is expected to deliver highly potent and durable treatments for debilitating dermatology diseases such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. The collaboration combines Evotec’s cutting-edge drug discovery and pre-clinical development platforms with Almirall’s leading expertise in dermatology diseases.

Under the terms of the agreement, Evotec will receive research funding and may be eligible to receive discovery, pre-clinical, clinical and sales milestone payments as well as tiered royalties.

Dr Cord Dohrmann, Chief Scientific Officer of Evotec, said: “Evotec is pleased to partner with Almirall in the field of dermatology, who is a globally recognised leader in the field. The goal is to jointly address highly validated targets via a new approach that has the potential to deliver superior first-in-class drug products. This platform enables disruption of cell signalling via a new approach that has been identified and developed by Evotec scientists in Toulouse and is expected to deliver many more drug discovery opportunities.”

Dr Bhushan Hardas, Executive Vice President R&D, Chief Scientific Officer of Almirall, said: “Our R&D strategy focuses towards achieving innovative and breakthrough products to cover patients’ unmet needs. This partnership with Evotec, an expert in delivering fast growing and profitable drug discovery and development business, represents a step forward in offering outstanding solutions for the treatment of dermatology diseases with the best technology available and with substantial benefit to patients suffering from dermatological disorders.”

ABOUT ALMIRALL
Almirall is a leading skin-health focused global pharmaceutical company that partners with healthcare professionals, applying Science to provide medical solutions to patients & future generations. Our efforts are focused on fighting against skin health diseases and helping people feel and look their best. We support healthcare professionals in its continuous improvement, bringing our innovative solutions where they are needed. The company, founded in 1943 and with headquarters in Barcelona, is listed on the Spanish Stock Exchange (ticker: ALM). Almirall has become a key element of value creation to society according to its commitment with its major shareholders and its decision to help others, to understand their challenges and to use Science to provide them with solutions for real life. Total revenue in 2017 was 755.8 million euros, and more than 1,830 employees are devoted to Science.
For more information, please visit www.almirall.com, linkedin.com/company/almirall

MEDIA AND INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT ALMIRALL

Media Contact:
Cohn&Wolfe
Marta Gállego
marta.gallego@cohnwolfe.com       
Tel.: (+34) 915 31 42 67
Investors & Corporate Communications contact:
Almirall
Pablo Divasson del Fraile
pablo.divasson@almirall.com
Tel.: (+34) 93 291 30 87

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 and our more than 2,400 employees provide the highest quality stand-alone and integrated drug discovery and development solutions. We cover all activities from target-to-clinic to meet the industry’s need for innovation and efficiency in drug discovery and development (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 neuronal diseases, diabetes and complications of diabetes, pain and inflammation, oncology, infectious diseases, respiratory diseases and fibrosis. On this basis, Evotec has built a broad and deep pipeline of approx. 100 co-owned product opportunities at clinical, pre-clinical and discovery stages (EVT Innovate). Evotec has established multiple long-term alliances with partners including Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, CHDI, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Sanofi, Takeda, UCB and others. 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.