Evotec, Harvard in ALS deal

Evotec AG (Xetra:EVT) and Harvard University's Harvard Stem Cell Institute partnered to identify compounds that prevent or slow down the loss of motor neurons, a characteristic of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Under the CureMoterNeuron (CureMN) collaboration, the partners will screen for new mechanisms, targets and compounds using human motor neuron assays developed by university researchers based on ALS patient-derived induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. The partners are not disclosing financial terms.

The deal is the fourth between Evotec and Harvard. Most recently in May, Evotec partnered with the university to discover and develop small molecule inhibitors of peptidoglycan biosynthesis. They also partnered in 2011 to discover and develop diabetes therapies targeting pancreatic beta cell regeneration, and in 2012 to discover biomarkers implicated in kidney damage and develop therapies against kidney disease (see BioCentury Extra, May 16). ...