Evotec and Centogene have expanded their drug discovery partnership related to the protein target glucocerebrosidase (GBA) with a focus on Gaucher disease.
This is a genetic and relatively common lysosomal storage disorder. The parties intend to develop a treatment option for the majority of patients whereas currently available treatments are individualised for each patient depending on the type of Gaucher disease, focusing on symptomatic relief.
Centogene, a commercial-stage company focused on rare diseases that transforms real-world clinical and genetic data into actionable information for patients, physicians, and pharmaceutical companies, and Evotec will work together to research, discover, and develop therapeutic options related to the deficiency of the protein GBA, a gene linked to Gaucher disease. The collaboration brings together Evotec’s leading induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) platform and broad drug discovery and development capabilities with Centogene global proprietary rare disease platform, including iPSC lines, to address the needs of this orphan drug indication. The collaboration builds on the partnership Evotec and Centogene entered in 2018 with the goal to discover and develop novel small molecules in rare hereditary metabolic diseases.
Dr Cord Dohrmann, Chief Scientific Officer of Evotec, commented: “The partnership with Centogene supports and complements our patient-centric drug discovery approach in Gaucher disease. We highly value Centogene’s biomarker expertise and real-world data-based global proprietary rare disease platform, which fits perfectly to our iPSC-based drug discovery platform. The combination should help identify disease-modifying treatments for this underserved patient population.”
Prof. Arndt Rolfs, CEO of Centogene, said: “Our collaboration with Evotec further underlines Centogene’s commitment to driving biomarker discoveries and accelerating orphan drug by leveraging our global expertise in rare hereditary diseases. In particular, we are able to draw on over 20 years of knowledge and research of Gaucher disease. By continuing our work alongside Evotec, we will accelerate transformational medical solutions in the rare disease field.”
Image: Hush Naidoo
