HAMBURG, Germany, Sept. 15, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Evotec AG (Frankfurt:EVT) (TecDAX) (ISIN:DE0005664809) and the Jain Foundation Inc. today announced that they have further extended and expanded the collaboration first signed in 2012 and extended last year.
This next phase of collaboration includes the screening of compound libraries in multiple assay formats to further support the Jain Foundation's goals of understanding and curing dysferlinopathies, a group of inherited skeletal muscular dystrophy diseases. This marks a major milestone in the efforts of the Jain Foundation to identify therapeutics which can counteract the phenotypes of dysferlin deficiency.
Dr Mario Polywka, Chief Operating Officer of Evotec, commented: "We are delighted to continue our relationship with the Jain Foundation and to be a part of this important step in dysferlin research. The progress to date and initiation of multiple screening programmes is a major accomplishment for both organisations and demonstrates Evotec's growing role in driving innovative and industrialised research in partnership with foundations such as the Jain Foundation working in rare diseases."
Dr Plavi Mittal, President and CEO of Jain Foundation, added: "We are pleased with the progress of our project with Evotec to date, and are excited to move forward to the screening phase of our drug development programme."
No financial details are disclosed.
ABOUT THE EVOTEC AND JAIN FOUNDATION COLLABORATION
In 2012, Evotec and the Jain Foundation initiated a research project to explore and validate cell-based assay principles useful for high throughput screening using dysferlin deficient skeletal muscle cells. The aim of this project is to discover compounds that improve the well-being of these dysferlin deficient skeletal muscle cells. In 2013, Evotec and the Jain Foundation extended and expanded their collaboration to leveraging Evotec's assay development and screening capabilities.
ABOUT JAIN FOUNDATION
The Jain Foundation, located in Seattle, Washington, USA, is a privately funded not-for-profit focused on finding a therapy for muscular dystrophies caused by dysferlin deficiency (LGMD2B/Miyoshi Myopathy).
ABOUT MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY
Muscular dystrophy refers to a group of diseases that produce muscle weakness. Muscular dystrophies all involve abnormalities of the muscle cells themselves, rather than the nerves that control the muscles. All muscular dystrophies are caused by genetic mutations.
Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy refers to a group of diseases (not a single disease) which were lumped together, long before the era of molecular biology and genetic engineering, because they shared some common clinical symptoms. The name refers to the first muscles to show symptoms, which are those around the shoulders and the hips.
Myopathy simply means 'muscle disease'. Miyoshi Myopathy (MM) is a form of muscular dystrophy that was first described in the medical literature by Miyoshi in 1967. Although first identified in Japan, it occurs worldwide. Miyoshi is caused by defects in the gene for the protein dysferlin.
Dysferlin is a protein made from the dysferlin gene that, when mutated or absent, causes both Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy type 2B and Miyoshi Myopathy.
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, inflammation and infectious diseases. Evotec has long-term discovery alliances with partners including Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, CHDI, Genentech, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, MedImmune/AstraZeneca, Roche and UCB. In addition, the Company has existing development partnerships and product candidates both in clinical and pre-clinical development. These include partnerships with Boehringer Ingelheim and MedImmune in the field of diabetes, with Janssen Pharmaceuticals in the field of depression and with Roche in the field of Alzheimer's disease. For additional information please go to www.evotec.com.
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