British Biotech to transfer research operations to Evotec OAI

Evotec OAI, of Germany, and British Biotech have entered into an agreement whereby British Biotech will transfer 17 of its laboratory research scientists to Evotec OAI and Evotec OAI will provide medicinal chemistry and biology services under contract to support British Biotech's anti-inflammatory and anti-infective research programmes.

The agreement complements British Biotech's proposed merger with RiboTargets, and is part of the intended rationalisation of the new business, which envisages that future research operations will be conducted at Ribotarget's laboratories in Cambridge. Evotec OAI will work under contract for British Biotech on its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial drug discovery research programmes. These will continue to be managed by British Biotech and its collaborative partners - Serono for inflammatory disease and GeneSoft for bacterial infections.

'This agreement facilitates the integration with Ribotarget and strengthens and extends our successful working relationship with Evotec OAI,' said British Biotech's acting ceo Tim Edwards.

The transfer is in line with Evotec OAI's growth strategy, extending its capacity through immediate access to an established group of research scientists. In 2002, the company commissioned additional chemistry laboratories at its site near Oxford to accommodate expanding programmes.