Bayer and Evotec form new strategic alliance focusing on polycystic ovary syndrome

Milestone payments potentially more than EUR 330 million

10-Jan-2020 - Germany

Evotec SE and Bayer AG announced the expansion of their partnership in women’s health indications with a new five-year, multi-target collaboration to develop multiple clinical candidates for the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Under the terms of the agreement, both companies will contribute drug targets and a comprehensive set of high-quality technology platforms to jointly develop innovative treatment options. The strategic alliance will also have access to targets from the recently formed partnership between Celmatix Inc. and Evotec. Celmatix is the world leader in big data-driven target discovery focused on fertility and women’s health.

“Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common, underdiagnosed and undertreated disease among women, with several serious co-morbidities. The currently available treatment options are also limited and insufficient,” said Dr. Cord Dohrmann, Chief Scientific Officer of Evotec. “Our long-term partnership with Bayer and the progression of multiple clinical candidates has been very successful and we look forward to continuing the relationship to deliver novel therapies for the benefit of patients with PCOS.”

“There is a high unmet medical need for women worldwide suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome. This new research alliance will perfectly complement Bayer's research activities in the area of women’s health,” said Dr. Joerg Moeller, Member of the Executive Committee of Bayer AG’s Pharmaceuticals Division and Head of Research and Development. “We look forward to joining our forces with Evotec in PCOS to develop new treatment options for women living with this often devastating condition.”

Bayer and Evotec will share responsibilities during the pre-clinical development of potential clinical candidates. Bayer will be responsible for any subsequent clinical development and commercialization. Evotec will receive EUR 6.5 million upfront payment and EUR 10 million research payments over five years. In addition, Evotec might be eligible to receive pre-clinical, clinical and sales milestones of potentially over EUR 330 million as well as royalties up to low double-digit percentage of net sales.

In 2012, Bayer and Evotec entered their first strategic five-year, multi-target alliance. The collaboration was successfully completed resulting in three clinical and one pre-clinical drug candidate currently advancing through development for the treatment of endometriosis. A second research alliance was initiated in 2016 to develop multiple clinical candidates for the treatment of kidney diseases.

https://www.bionity.com/en/news/1164347/bayer-and-evotec-form-new-strategic-alliance-focusing-on-polycystic-ovary-syndrome.html