HAMBURG, Germany, April 26, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Evotec AG (EVT.F - News) (TecDAX) today announced that it has extended and expanded its medicinal chemistry collaboration with Active Biotech AB (NASDAQ OMX: ACTI), to further advance an existing programme, which has entered the lead optimisation phase. The programme aims to find novel small molecule modulators of a priority biological target, selected by Active Biotech, involved in immune disorders and cancer.

The programme was initiated in 2010 with a high throughput screen followed by extensive hit validation and hit-to-lead activities, leveraging Evotec's hit identification and integrated medicinal chemistry platforms.

Dr Mario Polywka, Chief Operating Officer at Evotec stated: "We are delighted that our already successful collaboration with Active Biotech has been extended and expanded with the aim of taking this exciting programme through lead optimisation towards candidate nomination. This is an area where Evotec has a significant track record of success and we look forward to leveraging our expertise to assist Active Biotech in finding novel treatments addressing cancer and autoimmune disorders."

Dorthe da Graca Thrige, Director of Development of Active Biotech, commented: "Active Biotech strives to develop, efficiently and cost-effectively, new remedies for illnesses where today's treatment options are inadequate, especially in the area of cancer and autoimmune diseases. It is key for us to collaborate with first class companies and we have been very impressed with Evotec's hit identification and subsequent hit to lead activities on this important target and now look forward to progressing the leads through to candidate drug selection."

No financial details are disclosed.

ABOUT EVOTEC AG

Evotec is a drug discovery alliance and development partnership company focused on rapidly progressing innovative product approaches with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. We operate worldwide providing the highest quality stand-alone and integrated drug discovery solutions, covering all activities from target-to-clinic. 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 neuroscience, pain, metabolic diseases as well as oncology and inflammation. Evotec has long-term discovery alliances with partners including Boehringer Ingelheim, CHDI, Genentech, Medimmune/Astra Zeneca, Novartis and Ono Pharmaceutical. In addition, the Company has existing development partnerships and product candidates both in clinical and preclinical development. These include partnerships with Boehringer Ingelheim, MedImmune and Andromeda (Teva) in the field of diabetes, and with Roche in the field of Alzheimer's disease. For additional information please go to http://www.evotec.com.

ABOUT ACTIVE BIOTECH AB

Active Biotech AB (NASDAQ OMX NORDIC:ACTI) is a biotechnology company with focus on autoimmune/inflammatory diseases and cancer. Projects in pivotal phase are laquinimod, an orally administered small molecule with unique immunomodulatory properties for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, TASQ for prostate cancer and ANYARA for use in cancer targeted therapy, primarily of renal cell cancer. In addition, laquinimod is in Phase II development for Crohn's and Lupus. Further projects in clinical development comprise the two orally administered compounds, 57- 57 for SLE and Systemic Sclerosis as well as RhuDexTM for RA. Please visit http://www.activebiotech.com for more information.

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 report. 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.

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Evotec and Active Biotech Extend and Expand Medicinal Chemistry Collaboration