CENTOGENE and Evotec Discover Promising New Molecule to Treat Gaucher Disease

• CENTOGENE to receive license fee providing Evotec with R&D license to complete next phase of pre-clinical research
• Companies amend existing drug discovery partnership for Evotec to lead continued development. Upon Evotec exercising its option, CENTOGENE to receive an option exercise fee and other potential milestone payments and royalties

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and ROSTOCK, Germany and BERLIN, May 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Centogene N.V. (Nasdaq: CNTG), the essential life science partner for data-driven answers in rare and neurodegenerative diseases, today announced the discovery of a new small molecule together with Evotec SE (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, MDAX/TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809; NASDAQ: EVO). The new molecule has the potential to treat patients with type 2 and type 3 Gaucher disease, otherwise known as neuronopathic Gaucher disease. The discovery has been the result of the collaborative work under the existing drug discovery partnership which has been in place since 2020.

The Companies have now extended this collaboration for another year, granting Evotec an R&D License for the continued development activities. The amended agreement also provides Evotec with an exclusive option until March 31, 2025, to determine whether to enter a license agreement acquiring CENTOGENE’s share of the IP generated throughout the collaboration. In exchange for such a global exclusive license, CENTOGENE would receive an up-front fee, milestone payments, as well as additional royalties. Further financial details were not disclosed.

“This partnership is indicative of how we are able to successfully leverage our expansive know-how in rare diseases as well as the depth of the CENTOGENE Biodatabank, which in combination with Evotec’s multi-modality platform has successfully identified drug candidates in Gaucher disease,” said Dr. Peter Bauer, Chief Medical and Genomic Officer at CENTOGENE. “Importantly, together with Evotec, we have established a much deeper understanding of neuronopathic Gaucher disease than before, which we believe could accelerate the development of a new life-saving treatment for these patients worldwide.”