Evotec And Exscientia Announce Start of Human Clinical Trials of Novel Immuno-Oncology Drug

Rhea-AI Summary

Evotec SE announces that its selective A2a receptor antagonist, developed in partnership with Exscientia, has entered human clinical trials. The drug targets advanced solid tumors and is co-owned by both companies, with Exscientia leading the clinical development. Utilizing Exscientia's advanced AI platform, the drug aims to minimize side effects while enhancing T-cell immune response against tumors. This collaboration is seen as a significant step towards innovative cancer treatment.

Positive

• The A2a receptor antagonist has entered human clinical trials, indicating progress in drug development.
• The drug's design shows potential for best-in-class characteristics with reduced systemic side effects.
• Evotec retains co-ownership rights during clinical development, maintaining a stake in potential future success.

Negative

• None.

• SELECTIVE, NOVEL A2A RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST IS MOST ADVANCED ASSET ARISING FROM JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN EVOTEC AND EXSCIENTIA
• EXSCIENTIA TO LEAD CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT PHASE
• EVOTEC RETAINS CO-OWNERSHIP RIGHTS DURING CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT

HAMBURG, GERMANY / ACCESSWIRE / April 9, 2021 / Evotec SE (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, MDAX/TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809) today announced the most advanced asset arising from their joint venture with Exscientia has entered human clinical trials. The A2a receptor antagonist, which is in development for adult patients with advanced solid tumours, was co-invented and developed between Exscientia and Evotec, including application of Exscientia's next generation 3-D evolutionary AI-design platform, Centaur Chemist^(R). The drug candidate has potential for best-in-class characteristics, with high selectivity for the target receptor, bringing together potential benefits of reduced systemic side effects as well as minimal brain exposure to avoid potential undesired centrally-mediated side effects.

Tumour cells produce high levels of adenosine, a molecule that helps them escape immune system detection by binding to the A2a receptor on cancer-fighting T-cells, reducing T-cell ability to eliminate disease. Therefore, this highly selective A2a receptor antagonist is being investigated for its ability to prevent adenosine from binding to the T-cell receptor and potentially promote anti-tumour T-cell activity.

Dr Craig Johnstone, Chief Operating Officer of Evotec, commented: "We highly value our ongoing partnership with Exscientia, which has been highly collaborative and productive in every respect. We are therefore delighted to announce the start of clinical development of our co-owned A2a antagonist with Exscientia in the hope that the fruits of our collaboration can bring potential benefits to patients in the future."

Prof. Andrew Hopkins, CEO and founder of Exscientia, said: "We set ambitious therapeutic objectives for this project, especially high selectivity for the A2a receptor and central nervous system (CNS) sparing properties, in order to reduce the likelihood of potential side effects. Even with these challenging objectives, we were able to discover our candidate molecule within 8 months of project initiation."

Exscientia will lead further clinical development of the molecule and Evotec will retain co-ownership rights throughout clinical development.

ABOUT EXSCIENTIA
Exscientia is an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven pharmatech committed to discovering and designing the best possible medicines in the fastest and most effective manner. Exscientia is the first company to progress AI-designed small molecules into the clinical setting and repeatedly demonstrate the ability of AI to transform the how drugs are created. Drug design is precision engineering at the molecular scale. Exscientia has built dedicated AI systems that efficiently learn from the widest range of data and consistently reapply enhanced knowledge through iterations of design. Because Exscientia's AI platform learns more effectively and rapidly than human-led efforts alone, candidate molecules satisfying complex therapeutic requirements are created with revolutionary efficiency. Exscientia believes that designing better drugs, faster, will allow the best ideas of science to rapidly become the best medicines for patients. For more information visit us on www.exscientia.ai or follow us on Twitter @exscientiaAI.

ABOUT EVOTEC SE
Evotec is a drug discovery alliance and development partnership company focused on rapidly progressing innovative product approaches with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academics, patient advocacy groups and venture capitalists. We operate worldwide and our more than 3,500 employees provide the highest quality stand-alone and integrated drug discovery and development solutions. We cover all activities from target-to-clinic to meet the industry's need for innovation and efficiency in drug discovery and development (EVT Execute). The Company has established a unique position by assembling top-class scientific experts and integrating state-of-the-art technologies as well as substantial experience and expertise in key therapeutic areas including neuronal diseases, diabetes and complications of diabetes, pain and inflammation, oncology, infectious diseases, respiratory diseases, fibrosis, rare diseases and women's health. On this basis, Evotec has built a broad and deep pipeline of more than 100 co-owned product opportunities at clinical, pre-clinical and discovery stages (EVT Innovate). Evotec has established multiple long-term alliances with partners including Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, CHDI, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Sanofi, Takeda, UCB and others. For additional information please go to www.evotec.com and follow us on Twitter @Evotec.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Information set forth in this press release contains forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgement of Evotec as of the date of this press release. Such forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Media Contact Evotec SE:
Gabriele Hansen, SVP Head of Global Corporate Communications & Marketing, Phone: +49.(0)40.56081-255, gabriele.hansen@evotec.com

IR Contact Evotec SE:
Volker Braun, SVP Head of Global Investor Relations & ESG, Phone: +49.(0)40.56081-775, volker.braun@evotec.com

SOURCE: Evotec AG

View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/639636/Evotec-And-Exscientia-Announce-Start-of-Human-Clinical-Trials-of-Novel-Immuno-Oncology-Drug

FAQ

What is the new drug developed by Evotec and Exscientia?

The new drug is a selective A2a receptor antagonist aiming to treat adult patients with advanced solid tumors.

When did the clinical trials for the A2a antagonist start?

The clinical trials for the A2a antagonist began on April 9, 2021.

What is the role of Exscientia in the clinical development of the drug?

Exscientia will lead the clinical development of the A2a receptor antagonist while Evotec retains co-ownership rights.

How does the A2a receptor antagonist work?

The antagonist works by preventing adenosine from binding to T-cell receptors, potentially enhancing anti-tumor T-cell activity.

What are the expected benefits of the A2a receptor antagonist?

The drug is designed to have high selectivity and minimal brain exposure, aiming to reduce side effects while boosting the immune response against tumors.