Evotec and HZI join forces in antibiotics discovery

Under the collaboration, the partners will initially focus on optimisation of cystobactamids, a family of natural broad-spectrum myvobacterial topoisomerase inhibitors discovered by HZI researchers that are active against the most Gram-negative pathogens on the WHO priority list. 

Under the terms of the agreement, Evotec and HZI will collaborate for an initial term of three years. The collaboration will combine HZI's unique collection and know-how of natural products as well as access to in vitro and in vivo models of bacterial infection with Evotec's industrial drug discovery platform, expertise in medicinal chemistry and pharmacology as well as huge collection of bacterial pathogens.

Prof. Dirk Heinz, Scientific Director of HZI, said: "Translating insights from infectious diseases research into medical applications as quickly as possible is a crucial part of HZI's mission. Strategic cooperation with clinical and industry partners is vital to delivering on this translational mission by further developing innovative drug candidates such as cystobactamids as a potential tool against dangerous Gram-negative hospital germs. With Evotec we have found a strong and long-term oriented partner whose profile complements HZI's own expertise in antibiotics research extremely well."

No financial details of this collaboration were disclosed. One year ago, Sanofi outsourced its early antibiotics pipeline to Evotec and additionally formed a public private partnership, which validates drug candidates of academic partners.

Antimicrobial resistance or AMR is the ability of a microorganism, such as bacteria, viruses, and some parasites, to prevent an antibiotic from working against it. As a result, standard treatments become ineffective, infections persist and new resistance mechanisms may rapidly spread globally. AMR is one of the biggest threats to global health today. More than 350 international experts will meet in March 2019 at the two-days-conference 12th Berlin Conference on Novel Antimicrobials and AMR Diagnostics to discuss the latest progress in the field, to pitch novel technologies, to discuss novel financing models such as the British one etc. More than 70 speakers in 12 sessions will provide insights into latest developments and technologies. The conference is backed by many of the most relevant AMR stakeholders such as CARB-X, Novo Repair Impact Fund, BEAM alliance, bioMérieux, GARDP, JPIAMR, ENABLE, among others.