Evotec, Second Genome to collaborate on finding treatments for microbiome-mediated diseases
The collaboration will work to identify novel compounds as well as licence agreements for already existing assets developed by Evotec. Second Genome's approach to identify and modulate microbiome-mediated pathways will be enhanced by Evotec's integrated drug discovery platform. The agreement triggers an undisclosed upfront payment for Evotec, which is also eligible for pre-clinical, clinical and regulatory milestones as well as royalty payments related to commercialisation.
“The microbiome field is new to Evotec, but Second Genome is an expert on this field,” Evotec spokesman Gabriele Hansen told Outsourcing-Pharma.com.
As part of the partnership, Second Genome and Evotec will work together to screen microbiome-mediated targets of interest identified by the Second Genome microbiome discovery platform with Evotec's technology platform, chemical libraries and other pre-clinical capabilities.
Dr Cord Dohrmann, Chief Scientific Officer of Evotec, said in a statement: "We are pleased to contribute to Second Genome's unique approach to treat microbiome-mediated diseases in the body with a particular emphasis on the gut."
This latest deal for Evotec is just one of a flurry of recent partnerships that the company has formed. Earlier this year, Padlock Therapeutics extended its relationship with Evotec after prior success, and the European CRO also saw successes from its partnerships with Bayer and Janssen. Evotec also entered into negotiations in December for a major strategic relationship with Sanofi that could be worth more than $300m.
