Bayer, Evotec join hands to develop new treatments for kidney diseases

Under the five-year, multi-target research partnership, the companies will develop several clinical candidates for the treatment of chronic kidney disease in diabetes patients.

Both parties will contribute novel drug targets and a set of technology platforms, and will share responsibilities during preclinical development.

Bayer will secure exclusive access to selected candidates as well as to Evotec's CureNephron target pipeline, and is responsible for clinical development and commercialisation.

Evotec will receive a minimum of €14m over the contract period, including research payments and an undisclosed license fee.

The company is also eligible to receive preclinical, clinical and sales milestones of potentially more than €300m as well as tiered royalties up to low double-digit percentage of net sales.

Bayer pharmaceuticals division executive committee member and drug discovery head Andreas Busch said "Chronic kidney disease is a severe medical condition with insufficient treatment options for many patients.

“This new research alliance with Evotec will perfectly complement Bayer's current research activities in this area of high unmet medical need.”

Bayer and Evotec already have a five-year partnership in place for endometriosis. The alliance has delivered four preclinical candidates and one clinical programme has been started.