Evotec and Harvard Stem Cell Institute Form CureMN Collaboration to Advance ALS Research

HAMBURG, Germany, Sept. 12, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Evotec AG (EVT.F) (TecDAX) (ISIN:DE0005664809) today announced a strategic partnership with the Harvard Stem Cell Institute ("HSCI") to identify compounds that prevent or slow down the loss of motor neurons, which is characteristic of the human disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ("ALS"). The collaboration "CureMN" (CureMotorNeuron) will leverage human motor neuron assays based on ALS patient-derived induced pluripotent stem ("iPS") cells that were developed by Dr Lee Rubin, HSCI Principal Faculty member and professor in the Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard, and Dr Kevin Eggan, Early Career Scientist at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, HSCI Principal Faculty member and professor in the Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard as well as Evotec's leading drug discovery infrastructure and expertise to identify compounds that will have therapeutic value against this life-threatening disease.

Dr Cord Dohrmann, Chief Scientific Officer of Evotec, commented: "Kevin and Lee have made significant contributions to our understanding of the underlying pathology of motor neuron diseases. Their laboratories have developed a large array of ALS patient-derived motor neuron models that allow screening of diseased human cells in culture -- an approach that is sometimes referred to as a 'clinical trial in a dish'. Our intention is to systematically screen for new mechanisms, targets and compounds that have the potential to be developed into new products that will modify and ideally halt the progression of ALS and potentially other motor neuron diseases."

"Phenotypic screens based on patient-derived iPS cells are an exciting approach to tackle diseases where tractable mechanisms have remained elusive. Evotec's proven expertise in high-content screening and deep knowledge in the field of motor neurons is a perfect match for this project. In this latest collaborative effort with Evotec, we look forward to putting our combined dedication and knowledge to work identifying new therapeutics for motor neuron diseases," added Dr Vivian Berlin, Director Business Development in Harvard's Office of Technology Development.

This agreement marks the third collaboration between Evotec and leading Harvard Stem Cell Institute scientists -- and the fourth with Harvard scientists -- and significantly expands a partnership model which combines cutting-edge academic research from Harvard with Evotec's leading drug platform and expertise. This partnership model efficiently and effectively drives the development of innovative drug candidates.

"This agreement is another important step in our vital collaboration with Evotec, enabling us to hasten the transfer of stem cell-based discoveries to the clinic," said Brock Reeve, Executive Director of HSCI.

"Evotec, HSCI and Harvard share a commitment to accelerating promising research from the lab to the clinic," says Isaac T. Kohlberg, Harvard University's Senior Associate Provost and Chief Technology Development Officer. "Our continued collaboration is based upon a shared vision to match world-class science with industrial capability to address important unmet medical need, which is at the core of our public mission."

Evotec has also reached an agreement in principal with PatientsLikeMe (www.patientslikeme.com) on approaches to rapidly evaluate any patient testable theories about progression or pathways that might express themselves in ALS patients.

No financials were disclosed.

ABOUT ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ("ALS") -- also referred to as motor neurone disease or Lou Gehrig's disease in some part of the United States -- is a debilitating disease with varied etiology characterised by rapidly progressive weakness, muscle atrophy and fasciculations, muscle spasticity, difficulty speaking (dysarthria), difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) and difficulty breathing (dyspnea). ALS is the most common of the five motor neuron diseases. The disorder induces muscle weakness and atrophy throughout the body caused by the degeneration of the upper and lower motor neurons. Unable to function, the muscles weaken and atrophy. Individuals affected by the disorder may ultimately lose the ability to initiate and control all voluntary movement, although bladder and bowel sphincters and the muscles responsible for eye movement are usually, but not always, spared until the terminal stages of the disease. The majority of people with ALS die within 3-5 years from the onset of the symptoms; only about 10% of the people with ALS survive for 10 years or more. ALS mainly affects people between the ages of 40 and 70, with an average age of 55 at the time of diagnosis. Generally, ALS is 20% more common in men than women. The incidence of ALS is 2 per 100,000 people and there are about 150,000 patients diagnosed with ALS worldwide.

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Evotec and Harvard Stem Cell Institute Form CureMN Collaboration to Advance ALS Research