Evotec AG and MaRS Innovation have identified the first project to be developed under their LAB150 partnership.

This comes after the signing a collaboration agreement in September 2017. The project aims to develop kallikrein-targeting compounds as novel topical drugs for the rare but severe inflammatory skin disease ‘Netherton Syndrome’ as well as the broader disorder atopic dermatitis. Skin kallikreins are expressed in the outer layer of the human skin and represent an attractive target.

Approximately 2-5% of the general population and 20-30% of newborns suffer from skin inflammatory diseases. Current options are limited to general immune-suppressants (steroids) or systemic anti-inflammatory biologics.

“There is a clear unmet medical need for the development of novel topical drugs that can prevent inflammation before it becomes full-blown, especially in the pediatric population”, mentions Dr. Ioannis Prassas, one of the co-investigators on this project along with Drs. Diamandis and Antoninus Soosaipillai.

The team has completed a series of drug screening activities which have led to the identification of some very promising novel kallikrein inhibitors.

“We are very excited to team up with renowned partners like Evotec and MaRS Innovation under the LAB150 partnership. Access to capital, Evotec’s world-class drug discovery infrastructure and MaRS Innovation’s commercialization expertise is a recipe for success”, says Dr. Diamandis.