Hamburg, Germany - Evotec AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange, TecDAX, ISIN: DE 000 566480 9) and Roche today decided to voluntarily terminate the first proof-of-concept study in treatment-resistant depression with their NR2B sub-type selective NMDA antagonist EVT 101.  


The decision to terminate this Phase II study was triggered by difficulties to recruit patients under the current study protocol, resulting in the possibility of inconclusive results. EVT101 was generally well tolerated in healthy volunteers and patients enrolled so far. Difficulties in conducting this Phase II study in treatment resistant depression, the need to sharpen the toxicology profile and a potential requirement for an altered dosage scheme lead to an overall delay in the programme. Based on this the parties concluded to terminate the clinical development.
Evotec retains all rights in the EVT100 series, especially the back-up compound EVT103 and will enter into partnering discussions for these assets in another clinical development partnership. As advanced clinical development of drug candidates is not part of Evotec’s core business, Evotec does not intend to pursue further clinical development of its in NR2B sub-type selective NMDA antagonist without a partner.
 
Contact:
Dr Werner Lanthaler, Chief Executive Officer, Evotec AG, Schnackenburgallee 114, 22525 Hamburg, Germany, Phone: +49.(0)40.560 81-242, werner.lanthaler@evotec.com