Evotec AG announced that it has established an initiative with Sanofi through the launch of a newly created BRIDGE, called LAB031, designed to accelerate drug discovery across multiple therapeutic areas.
The BRIDGE LAB031 collaboration enables Evotec to access resources to enter research collaborations with academic institutions worldwide to collaborate on early-stage translational projects addressing indications in disease areas with a high unmet medical need. Over the next three years, the companies will focus on the generation and advancement of multiple small molecule programmes through the lead optimisation.
Evotec will apply its industry-leading discovery technologies to these projects to facilitate rapid and efficient drug discovery and development. For each project, Sanofi has the option to assume development responsibility upon the achievement of pre-agreed milestone criteria.
Dr Werner Lanthaler, Chief Executive Officer of Evotec, said: “This BRIDGE announced today is another strategic expansion of Evotec’s relationship with Sanofi. Supporting academic initiatives globally through BRIDGEs is designed to enable Evotec to validate translational ideas more efficiently.”
“We are pleased to expand our relationship with Evotec and establish LAB031. Sanofi is focused on identifying the best resources available in order to translate academic innovation into clinical assets,” said Shiv Krishnan, Head of Technology Platforms, Global Business Development & Licensing, at Sanofi.
The name of the BRIDGE “LAB031” refers to the departmental code of the Garonne where Toulouse, France has been the birthplace for fruitful collaborations between Sanofi and Evotec.