Bayer HealthCare and Evotec agree endometriosis alliance

Bayer HealthCare and Evotec have signed a new collaboration agreement that will see them carry out joint research into endometriosis therapies.

Under the terms of the five-year multi-target partnership deal, the companies will aim to develop three clinical candidates, with both parties contributing innovative drug targets and high-quality technology infrastructures.

They will share responsibility for early research and preclinical characterisation of potential candidates, with Bayer to take charge of any subsequent clinical development and commercialisation.

In total, Evotec stands to receive up to 580 million euros (466.05 million pounds) in milestone-based fees, plus royalties on any future product sales.

Professor Andreas Busch, member of the Bayer HealthCare executive committee and head of global drug discovery, said endometriosis "is one of Bayer's strategic research indications and our new collaboration with Evotec will perfectly complement our activities in this field of high unmet medical need".

Last week, the company announced its support for a new UN initiative that aims to make safe and effective contraception available to women in the world's poorest nations.