Hamburg, Germany/ Abingdon, UK - Evotec OAI, Hamburg, Germany (EVOTEC BioSystems AG, Neuer Markt: EVT), a supplier of integrated high-value added drug discovery services, today announced that it named Mark Whittaker, D. Phil., to the position of Director Drug Discovery. Dr Whittaker, who joins Evotec OAI from British Biotech Pharmaceuticals Ltd., will report to Dr Timm Jessen, Evotec OAI's Chief Scientific Officer.
 
"Mark brings extensive medicinal chemistry experience to the company," said Dr Jessen. "His broad experience in drug discovery projects from target to IND will be an important asset for Evotec OAI as we offer integrated services designed to accelerate the whole process, managing risk and helping our customers to reduce the time and cost of bringing new drugs to the market. We are delighted to have Mark join the Evotec OAI team. "
 
Dr Whittaker has 14 years experiences in the biotechnology industry. Before joining Evotec OAI Dr Whittaker, 43, was Director of Chemistry at British Biotech Pharmaceuticals Ltd., where he had global responsibility for the chemistry discovery and chemistry development activities including all relevant disciplines from target to IND, i.e. medicinal chemistry, combinatorial chemistry, molecular modelling and property prediction, process and scale-up chemistry, analytical as well as formulation. His experience has included the reorganisation and integration of research and development activities as well as the establishment of research collaborations with several biotech and pharmaceutical companies. During his career he has been responsible for the identification and selection of several drug candidates. Prior to his appointment as Director of Chemistry in June 2000 Dr Whittaker was Director of Medicinal Chemistry at British Biotech for a number of years having previously led various drug discovery programmes within the company.
 
Prior to his industry experience, Dr Whittaker held post-doctoral appointments at Oxford University and at York University, Toronto, Canada. Dr Whittaker received bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of York where he also completed his D. Phil.
 
About Evotec OAI
Evotec OAI offers the full range of high-value added products and services required to discover and develop drugs more effectively and efficiently. By integrating accelerated methods in biology, chemistry and screening, the Company has established a unique position as a one-stop-shop for all the critical elements in the drug discovery research and development process from target to clinical development. Approximately 540 people are based in Hamburg, Germany and Abingdon, U.K. Evotec OAI already has close links with many of the leading companies in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries including Novartis, Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Aventis, Pharmacia/Sugen, Eli Lilly, Bayer, BMS, Roche, Amgen, Biogen, Vertex, Serono and Immunex. The Company's shares are listed on the Neuer Markt of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.