Evotec enters partnership with Kazia Therapeutics for clinical development of EVT801

Rhea-AI Summary

Evotec has granted Kazia Therapeutics an exclusive worldwide license for the oncology asset EVT801, a small molecule inhibitor targeting VEGFR3. Kazia plans to initiate a Phase I clinical trial managed by Evotec, focusing on both monotherapy and combinations with immunotherapy. Evotec will receive an upfront payment, funding for biomarker development, and may earn over €300 million in milestones plus tiered royalties on net sales. This partnership aims to address significant unmet medical needs in oncology.

Positive

• Kazia to initiate a Phase I clinical trial for EVT801, managed by Evotec.
• Evotec to receive upfront payment and additional funding for biomarker development.
• Potential to earn over €300 million in clinical and commercial milestones.

Negative

• None.

• EVOTEC GRANTS KAZIA THERAPEUTICS AN EXCLUSIVE WORLDWIDE LICENSE FOR DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIALISATION OF ONCOLOGY ASSET EVT801
• KAZIA INTENDS TO INITIATE A PHASE I CLINICAL TRIAL OF EVT801 MANAGED BY EVOTEC
• EVOTEC WILL PROVIDE CHEMISTRY, MANUFACTURING AND CONTROLS ("CMC")
• EVOTEC RECEIVES A SMALL UPFRONT PAYMENT AS WELL AS RESEARCH FUNDING TO DEVELOP A BIOMARKER, AND IS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE CLINICAL AND COMMERCIAL MILESTONES AS WELL AS TIERED ROYALTIES ON THE NET SALES

HAMBURG, GERMANY / ACCESSWIRE / April 19, 2021 / Evotec SE (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, MDAX/TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809) announced today that the Company has entered into both a licensing and master service agreement with Kazia Therapeutics Limited ("Kazia", ASX: KZA; NASDAQ: KZIA), an Australian oncology-focused biotechnology company. Under the contract, Evotec will grant Kazia an exclusive worldwide license for research, development and commercialisation of Evotec's oncology project EVT801.

EVT801 is a pre-clinical-stage, orally available, small molecule inhibitor of the lymphatic growth factor receptor VEGFR3, originally developed within Evotec's partnership with Sanofi. The high selectivity of EVT801 for VEGFR3 over other VEGF receptors differentiates the compound from other small-molecule multi-kinase inhibitors that target multiple VEGF receptors, which are associated with significant toxicity. EVT801 provides the potential to specifically antagonise VEGFR3 to combine high efficacy both against the primary tumour and lymphatic-borne metastases with a highly favourable toxicology profile.

Kazia seeks to clinically evaluate EVT801 both as a single agent and in combination with immunotherapy in a set of specific oncology indications. Evotec will manage the Phase I trial under the full sponsorship of Kazia. Kazia will be responsible for any subsequent clinical evaluation and commercialisation of EVT801.

Evotec receives a small upfront payment as well as further payments for continued support progressing EVT801 into the clinic and beyond, e.g. for biomarker development and CMC. Additionally, Evotec is eligible to receive clinical and commercial milestones of more than € 300 m as well as tiered high single-digit royalties on the net sales of EVT801, which will be shared with Sanofi, Evotec's partner for the discovery and early development of EVT801.

Dr Cord Dohrmann, Chief Scientific Officer of Evotec, commented: "We are excited to enter this licensing agreement with Kazia, who have a strong track record of clinical expertise in oncology. EVT801 comes with a comprehensive pre-clinical data package, very well-characterised pharmacology, and a clear mechanistic understanding that can inform rational selection of target populations and therapeutic combinations. In addition to a great asset, Evotec provides Kazia with a world-class team to continue progression into the clinic. We look forward to working with Kazia, to make EVT801 available to patients globally, thus providing a new treatment option for their severe unmet medical needs."

Dr James Garner, Chief Executive Office of Kazia, said: "We are delighted to add this tremendously exciting new compound to the Kazia pipeline. Evotec have done first-class work in the early development of EVT801, and the preclinical data package is exceptionally strong. Our intention is to fast track a phase I clinical trial of the drug, which we expect to commence in CY2021."

ABOUT KAZIA THERAPEUTICS LIMITED
Kazia Therapeutics Limited (ASX: KZA, NASDAQ: KZIA) is an oncology-focused drug development company, based in Sydney, Australia. Our lead program is paxalisib, a brain-penetrant inhibitor of the PI3K / Akt / mTOR pathway, which is being developed to treat glioblastoma, the most common and most aggressive form of primary brain cancer in adults. Licensed from Genentech in late 2016, paxalisib commenced recruitment to GBM AGILE, a pivotal study in glioblastoma, in January 2021. Seven additional studies are active in other forms of brain cancer. Paxalisib was granted Orphan Drug Designation for glioblastoma by the US FDA in February 2018, and Fast Track Designation for glioblastoma by the US FDA in August 2020. In addition, paxalisib was granted Rare Pediatric Disease Designation and Orphan Designation by the US FDA for DIPG in August 2020. In March 2021, Kazia licensed Greater China rights for paxalisib to Simcere Pharmaceutical Company. For more information, please visit www.kaziatherapeutics.com.

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

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https://www.accesswire.com/641040/Evotec-enters-partnership-with-Kazia-Therapeutics-for-clinical-development-of-EVT801

FAQ

What is EVT801 and its significance in the market?

EVT801 is a pre-clinical-stage, orally available small molecule that selectively inhibits VEGFR3, potentially offering a safer and effective treatment option for oncology patients.

When does Kazia plan to start its Phase I clinical trial for EVT801?

Kazia intends to commence the Phase I clinical trial of EVT801 in calendar year 2021.

What financial benefits will Evotec receive from the partnership with Kazia regarding EVT801?

Evotec will receive a small upfront payment, ongoing research funding, and is eligible for over €300 million in clinical and commercial milestones, along with tiered royalties from net sales.

How does EVT801 differ from other small-molecule inhibitors?

EVT801 is distinguished by its high selectivity for VEGFR3, avoiding the significant toxicities often seen with multi-kinase inhibitors targeting multiple VEGF receptors.