Evotec and Almirall Advance First Dermatology Drug Candidate in Record Time Using AI-Driven Platform
Key Insights
Evotec and Almirall successfully nominated their first preclinical development candidate for immune-mediated inflammatory skin diseases (search) within just two years, significantly outperforming standard industry timelines.
The collaboration leverages Evotec's AI/ML-enhanced discovery platforms combined with Almirall's dermatology expertise to address high unmet medical needs in severe skin diseases (search).
The partnership includes potential milestone payments of up to €230 million per program and high single-digit royalties, with the program now advancing toward IND submission through Evotec's INDiGO platform.
Evotec SE and Almirall S.A. have achieved a significant milestone in their dermatology collaboration, announcing the nomination of a small molecule preclinical development candidate (search) (PDC) for immune-mediated inflammatory skin diseases (search). The joint team progressed from initial leads to PDC within just two years, substantially outperforming typical industry benchmarks for similar small molecule programs.
The breakthrough demonstrates the effectiveness of combining Evotec's AI/ML-enhanced drug discovery capabilities with Almirall's specialized dermatology expertise. The program targets novel treatments for immune-mediated inflammatory skin diseases (search) with high unmet medical need, representing a critical advancement in addressing severe dermatological conditions.
Accelerated Development Through Integrated Platforms
The success stems from Evotec's fully integrated, AI/ML-enhanced discovery and preclinical development platforms, which include medicinal chemistry, DMPK, in vitro biology and development expertise within a seamless, data-driven workflow. Close coordination between discovery and development teams supported fast iteration cycles and consistent decision-making, ultimately leading to the identification of a high-quality preclinical candidate within an accelerated timeline.
Dr. Cord Dohrmann, Chief Scientific Officer of Evotec, emphasized the significance of the achievement: "This program's speed and quality demonstrate the ability of our integrated, AI/ML-enabled discovery and preclinical development platforms to produce high-value candidates for clinical evaluation. Reaching a preclinical development candidate in such a short time validates our approach to data-driven, end-to-end drug discovery and exemplifies what can be achieved when scientific excellence is paired with a highly collaborative partnership such as our work with the dermatology expert Almirall."
Strategic Partnership and Financial Framework
The collaboration, established in May 2022, brings together Evotec's end-to-end discovery and preclinical development capabilities with Almirall's strong expertise and commitment to advancing medical dermatology. Almirall focuses on developing innovative therapies for patients living with skin diseases and on addressing areas of high unmet need in dermatology, particularly in immune-mediated dermatological conditions.
The financial structure of the partnership includes an undisclosed upfront payment to Evotec, research payments, and success-based milestones of potentially up to €230 million per program, along with royalties on net sales in the high single-digit percentage range.
Path to Clinical Development
Evotec will continue supporting the program toward IND submission through its INDiGO platform, an integrated, accelerated IND-enabling platform designed to ensure a smooth transition from discovery to clinical readiness. This approach maintains the accelerated timeline established during the discovery phase while ensuring regulatory compliance and clinical preparedness.
The collaboration targets the discovery and development of novel therapeutics for severe skin diseases (search), including a range of immune-mediated inflammatory conditions (search). The successful nomination of this first candidate validates the partnership's approach and sets the stage for potential additional programs within the multi-target drug discovery alliance.
This achievement highlights the growing importance of AI/ML-driven drug discovery platforms in accelerating pharmaceutical development timelines while maintaining quality standards. The partnership demonstrates how specialized expertise in therapeutic areas can be effectively combined with advanced technology platforms to address significant unmet medical needs in dermatology.