Hamburg, Germany | Abingdon, UK - Evotec OAI AG, Hamburg, Germany (Neuer Markt: EVT), a partner for integrated high-value-added drug discovery to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, today announced that it granted a licence to Roche Diagnostics GmbH, the German affiliate of the Roche Diagnostics division, a worldwide diagnostic company offering a full line of diagnostic products and services for laboratories of all sizes.
 
Evotec OAI's patent licensed to Roche covers the melting curve analysis of investigated gene fragments in PCR reactions (polymerase chain reaction = diagnostics based on minute amounts of DNA or RNA). The application of Evotec OAI's patented technology in instrumentation and kits substantially contributes to the accuracy of data of diagnostic kits. They are designed to detect and quantify target genes in diseased tissues (e.g. hidden tumors), to identify infectious agents like HIV or to design a therapeutic regimen based on patient specific SNP pattern. SNPs, single nucleotide polymorphisms, help to identify variations in the genetic pool of human beings.
 
Roche is applying this method in its LightCycler technology. The LightCycler System includes the LightCycler Instrument as well as accessories and reagents. In addition to one-time and up-front payments Evotec OAI will receive royalties on future product sales and milestone payments based on the commercial success of the technology.
 
Dr Timm Jessen, Chief Scientific Officer of Evotec OAI, said: "Evotec OAI always expected the melting curve of genes becoming an experimental tool to substantially improve the accuracy of PCR-based diagnostics. We are pleased to see this aspect of PCR-diagnostics becoming successfully commercialised by Roche, an internationally leading company in this field."
 
About Evotec OAI AG
Evotec OAI offers a comprehensive range of high-value added services and products required to increase the efficiency and at the same time reduce the risk in the identification of new drugs. By integrating proprietary state-of-the-art technologies and processes in biology, chemistry and screening, the Company has established a unique position for all the critical elements in the drug discovery and development process - from target to clinical development. Due to its extensive know how and experience Evotec OAI is the ideal partner for pharma and biotech companies world-wide. To date, Evotec OAI has completed over 1,200 projects with 150 companies, including all of the top 20 global pharmaceutical companies and major biotechs.
The Company employs more than 600 people, primarily at its two main sites at Hamburg in Germany and Abingdon in the UK. Subsidiaries are located in Europe and North America. In 2001 Evotec OAI achieved revenues of EUR 63.2 million. Evotec OAI shares are listed on the Neuer Markt of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since November 1999 (NM: EVT).

About Roche and Roche Diagnostics
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world's leading research-oriented healthcare groups in the fields of pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and vitamins. Roche's products and services address prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, thus enhancing well-being and quality of life. Roche's Diagnostics Division, the world leader in in-vitro diagnostics with a uniquely broad product portfolio, supplies a wide array of innovative testing products and services to researchers, physicians, patients, hospitals and laboratories worldwide. For further information, please visit our websites www.roche.com and www.roche-diagnostics.com.