Evotec Expands Collaboration With InterMune

InterMune, Inc., has signed a second drug discovery contract with Evotec.

Evotec will support InterMune’s research efforts using their medicinal chemistry know-how. In addition, they will utilize their expertise and technologies in computational chemistry, protein production, X-Ray crystallography and ADMET to further characterize active compounds and optimize their potency and selectivity to generate lead molecules for subsequent progression into clinical trials.

This contract expands Evotec’s existing collaboration with InterMune which was initiated in early 2007. This collaboration applies Evotec’s fragment-based drug discovery platform, EVOlution^TM, in combination with their ultra-high-throughput screening (uHTS) technologies to InterMune’s targets. To date new lead series have been identified for further optimization. Evotec also provides medicinal chemistry, secondary screening, protein production, X-ray crystallography and ADMET. The financial terms include a technology access fee for access to Evotec’s fragment-based drug discovery platform, EVOlution^TM, plus ongoing research funding.

“With the support of Evotec, InterMune has made considerable progress in their Hepatitis C drug discovery and development program. We are pleased that InterMune saw the value in our proprietary fragment-based drug discovery technology and that it has contributed to the success to their research efforts,” said Dr Mark Ashton, Executive Vice President Business Development Services at Evotec.