Evotec signs novel antibiotics research deal with Nosopharm

04-Jul-2019 - Last updated on 04-Jul-2019 at 15:24 GMT

(Images: Getty/Pinkypills)

Evotec is collaborating with Nosopharm, which expects to launch first-in-human studies in 2021, to accelerate the development of novel antibiotics.

Founded in 2009 and based in Lyon, France, Nosopharm is researching and developing new anti-infective drugs. The company has a staff of seven and to date has raised a total of €4.3m ($5.2m) in private equity in addition to €3.8m ($4.6m) in grants.

The drug discovery and development company Evotec recently announced a partnership with the French company, through which it will advance Nosopharm’s lead candidate, NOSO-502.

The initial focus of the agreement – financial terms of which were not disclosed – is on chemistry, manufacturing and control (CMC) and other clinical trial application-enabling activities for NOSO-502, for which first-in-human studies are expected in 2021.

The Phase I clinical trial will evaluate the use of NOSO-502 in the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI) and complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAI).

Evotec also will work to develop a second-generation Odilorhabdin drug candidate. According to the company, the clinical candidate selection process for NOSO-2G is expected in 2022.

Dr. Cord Dohrmann, chief scientific officer at Evotec, said in a statement: “We are thrilled to play a key role in this partnership and we believe that with the unique combination of our infectious disease expertise and drug discovery and early development platforms, the lead candidates will soon enter the clinic and bring hope to physicians and their patients living with nosocomial infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria.”

In June 2018, Evotec signed a deal to integrate Sanofi’s infectious disease unit into its organization and license-in the majority of the Sanofi’s infectious disease research portfolio and initiatives.

The transaction more than doubled the number of scientists employed at Evotec, as 100 Sanofi employees were integrated into its global drug discovery and development operations.