Novo Nordisk inks deal with Evotec to develop small-molecule drugs for diabetes, obesity

Novo Nordisk entered a strategic alliance with Evotec to develop small-molecule therapies to treat patients with diabetes and obesity, the German company said Wednesday. The deal, of which financial details were not disclosed, will also focus on co-morbidities such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, cardiovascular diseases and diabetic kidney disease.

Marcus Schindler, senior vice president of global drug discovery at Novo Nordisk, said the company "is confident" that the agreement "will open up new possibilities in small-molecule drug discovery and development targeting diabetes and obesity."

Under the agreed terms, Evotec will apply its drug discovery platform, especially in ligand-based design, to develop compounds to address diabetes and associated morbidities. Evotec added that once suitable preclinical candidates are selected, Novo Nordisk will use the German drugmaker's INDiGO platform to move these molecules through studies to enter IND registration.

Novo Nordisk's deal with Evotec comes shortly after the Danish company bought Ziylo as it looks to develop glucose responsive insulins. For related analysis, read 

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