Evotec and ex scientia Announce Partnership to Discover Bispecific Small Molecule Immuno-Oncology Therapeutics

Evotec AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809) and ex scientia Ltd (Dundee, UK) today announced a collaboration with the objective to discover and develop first-in-class bispecific small molecule immuno-oncology therapies. Ex scientia will contribute its unique algorithmic design platform while Evotec, mainly through its Toulouse site, will be responsible for medicinal chemistry, in vitro and in vivo pharmacology as well as development capabilities and expertise.

Application of bispecific small molecules is an exciting strategy to significantly expand and enhance efficacy beyond conventional single target therapies. The initial focus will be cancer-related adenosine targets which are increasingly recognised to play important roles in immuno-oncology. Combining adenosine-based mechanisms with related targets holds great promise in boosting efficacy and addressing larger patient populations through a single small molecule drug.

Dr Cord Dohrmann, Chief Scientific Officer of Evotec, commented: "Polypharmacy is a widely used strategy to manage diseases more effectively. Ex scientia has built an outstanding platform to purposely design bispecific small molecules that can address multiple targets through a single molecule. Together we are well positioned to discover and develop a new generation of small molecule immuno-oncology therapies."

Commenting on the relationship, Andrew Hopkins, CEO, ex Scientia, said: "This is an ideal partnership to develop an innovative immuno-oncology portfolio where our focus is on delivering efficacious drug candidates to tackle the inherent challenges of the complex biology. Evotec have an excellent track record in project delivery and their proven track record in regarding efficiency gains in drug discovery chime with our own."

This is a co-owned, risk-shared-partnership, no further financial details were disclosed.

ABOUT EX SCIENTIA LTD

ex scientia Ltd is a privately owned company developing new medicines for a wide range of human diseases where improved efficacy is required. ex scientia is the first company to develop a systematic algorithmic discovery platform to automatically design molecules to complex target product profiles. ex scientia has successfully applied its algorithm-driven design principles to developed novel molecules with complex bispecifics, and phenotypic product profiles. Adopting this strategy increases the efficiency and effectiveness of drug discovery. As the industry pioneer of automated drug design, ex scientia aims to create exceptional value for its partners, by delivering effective treatments to the clinic. For additional information please go to www.exscientia.co.uk.

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 providing the highest quality stand-alone and integrated drug discovery solutions, covering all activities from target-to-clinic to meet the industry's need for innovation and efficiency in drug discovery (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 neuroscience, pain, metabolic diseases as well as oncology, inflammation and infectious diseases. On this basis, Evotec has built a broad and deep pipeline of more than 70 partnered product opportunities at clinical, pre-clinical and discovery stages (EVT Innovate). Evotec has established multiple long-term discovery alliances with partners including Bayer, CHDI or UCB and development partnerships with e.g. Janssen Pharmaceuticals in the field of Alzheimer's disease, with MedImmune and Sanofi in the field of diabetes, with Pfizer in the field of organ fibrosis and with Second Genome in the field of inflammatory diseases. For additional information please go to www.evotec.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 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.

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