Evotec SE has announced the nomination of a small molecule preclinical development candidate (PDC) under its multi-target drug discovery alliance with Almirall S.A., focused on developing innovative treatments for immune-mediated inflammatory skin diseases with high unmet medical need.

The milestone marks a significant achievement for the partnership, with the joint teams advancing from initial discovery to a preclinical candidate within two years—faster than typical industry timelines for similar programmes. The accelerated progress underscores Evotec’s capability to deliver high-quality drug candidates efficiently using integrated, technology-driven platforms.

The programme utilises Evotec’s end-to-end, AI and machine learning-enabled discovery and preclinical development ecosystem. This includes expertise in medicinal chemistry, drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK), in vitro biology and development, all integrated into a seamless, data-driven workflow. Close collaboration between research and development teams enabled rapid iteration and informed decision-making, resulting in the identification of a promising candidate.

The alliance combines Evotec’s scientific and technological capabilities with Almirall’s strong focus on medical dermatology and commitment to addressing unmet needs in skin diseases. The collaboration, established in May 2022, targets the development of novel therapies for severe dermatological conditions, particularly those driven by immune system dysfunction.

Evotec will continue advancing the candidate toward Investigational New Drug (IND) submission through its INDiGO platform, which is designed to streamline the transition from discovery to clinical readiness.

The agreement between the two companies includes upfront and research payments, as well as potential milestone payments of up to Euro 230 million per programme and royalties on future sales. The progress of this programme highlights the growing role of AI-enabled drug discovery in accelerating the development of targeted therapies.