Milestone Reached In Neuroscience Collaboration Between Evotec And Bristol Myers Squibb

Evotec SE has achieved significant scientific advancements in its neuroscience partnership with Bristol Myers Squibb, leading to a research payment of $20 million to Evotec. A target-driven initiative has advanced into the late stages of pre-clinical development, further enriching the portfolio of discoveries that the collaboration has generated, aimed at progressing to clinical-stage programs in neurodegenerative diseases.Evotec and Bristol Myers Squibb initiated their strategic partnership in December 2016 with the goal of discovering treatments that modify diseases across various neurodegenerative conditions. Existing approved drugs largely focus on short-term symptom management, highlighting a critical need for therapies that can effectively slow or halt disease advancement.

Bristol Myers Squibb licensed EVT8683 from Evotec in September 2021, renaming it BMS-986419. After a promising Phase I trial, Bristol Myers Squibb revealed plans to initiate a Phase II study for BMS-986419 in 2024. In March 2023, Bristol Myers Squibb and Evotec prolonged and broadened their collaboration for another 8 years. Chief Scientific Officer of Evotec, Dr. Cord Dohrmann said that “We are excited to further expand our pipeline with another high-potential program progressing into late pre-clinical development, demonstrating the exceptional productivity of our neuroscience partnership with Bristol Myers Squibb and our shared commitment to innovation and patient care.”

He further added, “Together with Bristol Myers Squibb we have been able to advance a growing portfolio of programs to critical inflection points, bringing us closer to our joint goal of delivering new therapeutic options for patients suffering from devastating neurological disorders.”