Evotec Expands CRISPR-Based Technology Offering with Licence from ERS Genomics

Licence provides evotec’s partners with unique integrated solution to identify novel disease-modifying genes; builds upon existing expertise on phenotypic screening, ipsc and disease biology.

HAMBURG, Germany—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Evotec AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809) today announced that it has expanded its CRISPR service offering with the addition of a licence from ERS Genomics Limited. With this licence, Evotec gains access to the leading technology for gene editing, thereby complementing and expanding its existing service offering in the CRISPR gene editing space.

The new licence from ERS Genomics Limited complements and expands Evotec's existing CRISPR licences through the Broad Institute with gene editing technology from Emmanuelle Charpentier and others.

Dr Mario Polywka, Chief Operating Officer of Evotec, commented: "Obtaining this new licence from ERS Genomics is the latest example of Evotec's investment in gene editing technologies. Together with our world-leading iPSC and phenotypic screening platforms, the continued expansion of CRISPR-based technologies at Evotec provides our partners with a unique solution for the identification of novel disease modifying genes."

Eric Rhodes, CEO of ERS, commented: "We're thrilled to add Evotec to our growing list of licensees of CRISPR-Cas9 technology. As one of the world's leading providers of customised research solutions it's very gratifying to see Evotec actively expanding its use of the technology across several key areas."

About Evotec's CRISPR offering CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) is a naturally occurring bacterial immune system. Researchers have harnessed this system as a genome editing tool for mammalian cells. Evotec has multiple licences to this technology through ERS Genomics and the Broad Institute for the use of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology.

Evotec uses the CRISPR technology to drive its target identification platform as well as aid the deconvolution of targets from phenotypic screening. With the integration of genome-wide arrayed CRISPR libraries into Evotec's screening platforms, Evotec is harnessing the power of gene deletion and human, cell-based disease models to identify novel targets for downstream drug discovery programmes.

ABOUT ERS GENOMICS LIMITED
ERS Genomics was formed to provide broad access to the foundational CRISPR/Cas9 intellectual property held by Dr Emmanuelle Charpentier. Non-exclusive licences are available for research and sale of products and services across multiple fields including: research tools, kits, reagents; discovery of novel targets for therapeutic intervention; cell lines for discovery and screening of novel drug candidates; GMP production of healthcare products; production of industrial materials such as enzymes, biofuels and chemicals; and synthetic biology.

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 press release. 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.