03. August 2017 Stem Cell Research: Evotec AG and Fraunhofer IMEScreeningPort Sign Strategic Collaboration

Human stem cells, which can be produced from mature cells by dialing back their developmental programming - so-called "induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells)" - have enormous potential for regenerative medicine as well as for the research and development of new therapeutics. To ensure the development of better drug candidates in the field of patient-derived iPS cells, Evotec AG and the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME are entering into a strategic alliance. Evotec AG today announced a strategic collaboration on induced pluripotent stem cell ("iPSC") technology with the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, ScreeningPort ("Fraunhofer IME-SP"), Hamburg, as an important element of the existing Evotec/Fraunhofer cooperation agreement signed in 2014. Through this partnership, Fraunhofer IME-SP will provide access to its technology portfolio including advanced genetic characterisation techniques and innovative quality control procedures to support Evotec's platform for drug identification. The contract will run for an initial period of two years. Dr Cord Dohrmann, Chief Scientific Officer of Evotec, commented: "We are very pleased to have teamed up with Fraunhofer IME-SP. As a life sciences organisation that operates at the interface of academic and industrial ambition and with a number of iPSC-based initiatives already in place, it is perfectly positioned to provide cutting-edge technologies and expertise to support Evotec's own efforts in this exciting area." Dr Ole Pless, Head of Translational Drug Discovery of Fraunhofer IME, added:"Both Fraunhofer and Evotec are focused on advancing drug discovery using the multifaceted opportunities which patient-derived iPSCs add to the tool box for deciphering complex diseases. This collaboration is further strengthening our understanding of how iPSC technology can lead to more successful drug development programmes. We look forward to working closely with our colleagues at Evotec and supporting their ambitious plans for iPSC-based drug discovery." No financial details were disclosed. Quelle: Pressemitteilung des Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and applied ecology IME vom 3. August 2017, https://www.ime.fraunhofer.de/de/presse_medien1/Allianz_Evotec_iPSC.html