Ημερομηνία: 3/12/2007 9:36:00 πμ Περιοχή: Νέα Υόρκη ΗΠΑ Από: BW

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( BW)(CT-APTUIT) Aptuit Acquisition of Evotec AG CPD Business Completes Unique Global API Development Supply Chain Acquisition Brings Additional API Development and Manufacturing Capability and Sterile Fill, Finish Aptuit Remains on Track to Create a Fully Integrated Global Drug Development Company Operating with Their Customers in a Truly Efficient Paperless Environment Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers GREENWICH, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 3, 2007--Aptuit, Inc. today announced that it has completed the acquisition of the Chemical and Pharmaceutical Development (CPD) business of Evotec, which integrates an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) facility in Oxford, England and a well-established and recently-expanded parenteral (injectable vials) fill/finish facility in Glasgow, Scotland into Aptuit's global network. The integration of these development and small scale manufacturing facilities in Europe completes a unique global API supply chain where small scale development takes place in the US and Europe with commercial scale undertaken in new state of the art facilities in India. Aptuit brings this service to its current client base of more than 750 pharmaceutical innovators. "Over the past 18 months we've assembled by strategic acquisitions the core competencies that are key to reducing the time and cost burdens of drug development for our customers, and that also build on our commitment to operate an efficient, integrated global network. This particular acquisition is an important building block for Aptuit as we move toward completing that network," said Michael A. Griffith, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Aptuit. "As the overall life science industry evolves, we are continuously evaluating the ways in which the drug development process must change and improve, and executing forward-looking deals and partnerships that are beneficial to our customers now and for the life of their products." Griffith continued, "The commitment to be a global force and provide full service in the US, Europe and Asia requires foresight and discipline in anticipating the needs of the market, the ability to attract, train and retain talent and build an infrastructure that best meets those needs of our many and diverse clients continues to be the focus of our attention as we constantly strive for improvements in the drug development process. We also recognize that technology and the ability to capture, store, analyze and present data in paperless business transactions will be a prerequisite for companies like ours in the future and we continue to actively invest in those resources across our network. In addition, Paul McGee (formerly Evotec's Senior Vice President of Chemical Development in Oxford, England), who will head the business in Oxford commented, "I am truly impressed by the positive response and interest by existing and prospective clients in the capabilities Aptuit is assembling to improve the drug development process and we have already made several proposals to clients jointly with other parts of the Aptuit network and I am also delighted to continue working on the exciting portfolio of products Evotec is developing through the long term supply agreement established between the two companies." Since the acquisition of Evotec's CPD business was announced, Aptuit has worked to align: formulation and drug product manufacturing businesses, with a critical part of which is Aptuit's solid-state chemistry center of excellence in West Lafayette (Indiana); plants in Europe into Aptuit's global API network with existing operations in Harrisonville (Missouri), Kansas City (Missouri) and Hyderabad (India), positioning Aptuit to provide drug substance development, scale-up and manufacturing capabilities in all three major pharmaceutical geographies; and including two lyophilization suites, with Aptuit's existing fill/finish and lyophilization capabilities in Kansas City, establishing substantial capacity in one of the fastest growing and most lively sectors of drug development. "Positioning our Chemical and Pharmaceutical Development business supports the needs of our biotechnology and pharmaceutical innovator clients in this sector by giving them access to a mature suite of capabilities within a company that can support specific needs across the drug development continuum," said Jorn Aldag, President & Chief Executive Officer of Evotec. About Evotec Evotec is a leader in the discovery and development of novel small molecule drugs. Both through its own discovery programs and through research collaborations, the Company is generating the highest quality research results to its partners in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. In proprietary projects, Evotec specializes in finding new treatments for diseases of the Central Nervous System. Evotec has three programs in clinical development: EVT 201, a partial positive allosteric modulator (pPAM) of the GABA(A) receptor complex for the treatment of insomnia, EVT 101, a subtype selective NMDA receptor antagonist for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and/or pain, and EVT 302, a MAO-B inhibitor in development for smoking cessation. www.evotec.com About Aptuit Aptuit is a global company focused on streamlining and supporting the drug development process for biotechnology and pharmaceutical innovators. The company was founded by a group of industry experts with extensive market experience who have a track record of building a similar, highly successful company through acquisitions and investment. Aptuit provides a comprehensive suite of product development services and competencies to more than 600 biotechnology and large, fully integrated pharmaceutical innovators worldwide. Following the acquisition of the CPD business, Aptuit will have 2,680 employees across 18 global facilities, including the recently-announced formation of Aptuit Laurus (India). Aptuit's mission is to engineer a better drug development process, and is partnered with Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, one of the world's largest private equity investors. For more information about Aptuit, please visit www.aptuit.com . CONTACT: Aptuit, Inc. Joanna Crosby, +44 1244 845700 joanna.crosby@aptuit.com or Feinstein Kean Healthcare Courtney Harris, 617-761-6744 courtney.harris@fkhealth.com KEYWORD: CONNECTICUT INDIA SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL ASIA PACIFIC EUROPE INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PHARMACEUTICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY MERGERS/ACQ SOURCE: Aptuit, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2007