Evotec makes strategic equity investment in antibody drug conjugate specialist Tubulis

On May 3, 2022 Evotec SE (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT, MDAX/TecDAX, ISIN: DE0005664809; NASDAQ: EVO) reported that the Company has made a strategic equity investment in Tubulis GmbH by participating in the company’s Series B financing round (Press release, Evotec, MAY 3, 2022, View Source [SID1234613363]). Based in Munich, Germany, Tubulis specialises in the development of antibody drug conjugates ("ADCs") by leveraging a set of proprietary technology platforms to develop these highly targeted therapeutics against solid tumours.

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By linking a small molecule drug ("payload") with an antibody, ADCs use the targeting capabilities of monoclonal antibodies to selectively deliver cancer-destroying substances to the affected cells. Tubulis’ approach to ADCs is based on a variety of proprietary technologies regarding both linkers and payloads. The companies’ technologies utilise novel chemical groups to go beyond traditional payload classes and increase antibody conjugation options, thus enabling the development of ADCs with higher drug-to-antibody ratios.

Evotec joins a consortium of new and renowned investors to fund Tubulis’ € 60 m Series B financing round led by Andera Partners. Tubulis intends to use the new capital to further progress the company’s proprietary pipeline as well as to continue innovating novel payload classes and identifying new targets for solid tumours to transform the ADC space. In conjunction with the financing round, Dr Thomas Hanke, EVP, Head of Academic Partnerships at Evotec, will join Tubulis’ Supervisory Board.

Dr Werner Lanthaler, Chief Executive Officer of Evotec, commented: "We are excited to participate in Tubulis’ Series B financing round alongside European venture capital investors such as Andera Partners and Fund+. This investment further adds momentum as well as diversification to Evotec’s EVOequity strategy."

Dr Thomas Hanke, EVP Academic Partnerships at Evotec and new member of Tubulis’ Supervisory Board, commented: "With their unique, differentiated and proprietary platform of both linker and payload technologies, Tubulis is ideally positioned to fully exploit the potential that antibody drug conjugates hold within the field of targeted therapies also for solid tumours. This investment underpins Evotec’s strategic approach of leveraging partnerships to deliver effective medicines– regardless of therapeutic modality."