Evotec AG announced that its multi-target alliance with Bayer has advanced another promising small molecule into Phase I for the treatment of endometriosis, a painful, debilitating reproductive condition that affects approximately 176 million women worldwide.
This milestone was achieved under the highly successful strategic alliance Evotec and Bayer entered in October 2012. The goal of this collaboration is to discover three clinical candidates within the five-year alliance. Both parties contribute innovative drug targets and high-quality technology infrastructures and share the responsibility for early research and pre-clinical characterisation of potential clinical candidates in the disease area of endometriosis. Since the beginning of the collaboration, six first-in-class/best-in-class non-hormonal pre-clinical candidates have been generated, three of which have now advanced into clinical trials.
Dr Mario Polywka, Chief Operating Officer of Evotec, commented: “Since we began collaborating with Bayer in 2012, the joint teams have combined cutting-edge science, significant drug discovery expertise, and a shared commitment to bring new therapeutic options to the millions of women suffering from endometriosis. Today, we have delivered on our very high expectations with the advancement of our third novel drug candidate into Phase I studies to treat this high unmet medical need. Bayer is a great partner and we look forward to further advancing our endometriosis pipeline.”