Evotec partner Haplogen enters into collaboration with Bayer

Evotec AG announced that Haplogen GmbH, a Vienna-based biotechnology company and collaboration partner of Evotec, has entered into a multi-year drug discovery and development collaboration with Bayer AG to identify new therapeutics with applications in pulmonary diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (“COPD”).

Since Haplogen and Evotec began collaborating in 2012, collectively, they built a robust portfolio of pulmonary therapeutic programmes based on the industry-leading drug discovery platforms and know-how of both companies. The target-based approach will now be broadened under the terms of the new Haplogen collaboration with Bayer.

COPD is a common and heterogeneous respiratory disease that causes breathlessness and predisposes to exacerbations and serious illness. Respiratory viral infections are one frequent cause of COPD exacerbations. One possible treatment approach for COPD exacerbations is to disrupt the multiplication of the responsible virus by inhibiting its replication. The goal of the research alliance from Haplogen and Bayer is to develop new antiviral compounds addressing the high unmet medical need in reducing COPD exacerbations.

Dr Werner Lanthaler, Chief Executive Officer of Evotec, said: “Our alliance with Haplogen has proven that both companies and teams are united by the same spirit and objectives under a very efficient “virtual” performance-based biotech business model. With the addition of Bayer’s excellent expertise, we have high aspirations for this partnership and look forward to bringing new and better treatments to patients living with pulmonary diseases.”

Dr Georg Casari, Chief Executive Officer of Haplogen, commented: “This partnership with Bayer will transform our discoveries to therapies with benefit to patients in need. At Haplogen we are proud to see our work in research and development validated and approved by Bayer’s commitment to this partnership. It has been the outcome of an excellent and professional collaboration with our partner Evotec.”

As part of the new Haplogen collaboration, Bayer receives an exclusive license to worldwide rights to programmes developed within the collaboration between Haplogen and Evotec. Evotec will participate in undisclosed upfront as well as potential milestone and royalty-based payments from Haplogen.

Further financial terms of the Haplogen-Bayer collaboration are not disclosed.