Joern Aldag, President and Chief Executive Officer of Evotec OAI, commented: "Following a successful collaboration in the development of our EVOscreen® uHTS system, Novartis has chosen Evotec OAI to support their lead discovery efforts. We are delighted that one of the world's leading R&D organisations has chosen our expertise in drug discovery and our technology platform in this critical area of research."
 
In early 1996 Novartis decided to invest in the development of Evotec OAI's EVOscreen® uHTS technology, becoming the first technology development collaborator.
 
Evotec OAI provides the full spectrum of services to take clients' projects from target to IND. Fast assay development and highly sensitive high-throughput screening services are part of its integrated offering. Applying innovative and validated proprietary technologies, more than 120 novel biological assays have been developed from a wide variety of target classes, including kinases, phosphatases, proteases, GPCRs, ion channels, DNA-binding proteins and protein/protein interactions. In 2002 the Company greatly increased its capabilities in performing cellular assays including reporter assays, protein translocation and cytotoxicity assays at the medium throughput and uHTS level.

About Evotec OAI AG

Evotec OAI has established itself as the partner of choice for drug discovery and development services for the world's premier pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, maintaining its leadership role through innovation and unmatched customer service.

Our business strategy is clearly focussed on drug discovery. We have established the most comprehensive technology platform and skills that integrate our world-class biology and chemistry capabilities. We leverage this discovery engine in providing assay development and screening through to compound optimisation and drug manufacturing services to a broad and well-established network of customers. In addition, we engage in selected discovery programmes ourselves to develop drug candidates for early out-licensing. Our instrument and technology business is now successfully handled by our affiliate, Evotec Technologies.

With over 600 people in Hamburg, Germany and Abingdon, UK, Evotec OAI is dedicated to returning value to its shareholders and employees through a sustainable business strategy that balances short-term and long-term revenue opportunities.