Vifor Pharma has mandated Evotec to provide integrated biology, chemistry and preclinical development as well as project management services for the discovery activities to identify a preclinical candidate for the treatment of anaemia. The project cost is approximately CHF 8.5 million. The agreement applies Evotec’s integrated drug discovery expertise and technologies to proceed from novel small molecules to chemical optimisation of the leads into drug candidates. For confidentiality reasons both companies have agreed that no further details about the research project will be revealed.

Vifor Pharma has a leading position in the global market for iron replacement therapy. This agreement is consistent with Vifor Pharma’s long-term strategy in anaemia in order to expand its product pipeline by further research and development activities.

“We have a high regard for Evotec's drug discovery and development expertise and the capabilities and technologies they will use to progress our project. They have a proven expertise in drug discovery and development and we look forward to achieving success with Evotec” said Dr David Ebsworth, CEO at Vifor Pharma.

Dr Werner Lanthaler, CEO of Evotec, commented: “This agreement represents a great step forward in our business model, as we are committed to identifying a preclinical candidate within an agreed budget. This will allow us to fully integrate and leverage all of our research sites and scientists to efficiently deliver a preclinical candidate to Vifor Pharma and clearly demonstrates the complete integrated drug discovery capability we have.”