HUJ is the latest site for Evotec's Bridge drug discovery model, which supports pre-spinout academic research to advance promising drug candidates.
Yissum, the tech transfer company of Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJ), yesterday joined forces with drug discovery firm Evotec to launch Lab555, the latest iteration of the latter’s academic commercialisation bridge model.
Evotec and Yissum are joined in the initiative by Integra Holdings, an investment firm focused on HUJ life sciences spinouts. The financial terms of the collaboration were not disclosed.
Lab555 will attempt to accelerate early-stage Hebrew University drug discovery research, combining Integra’s knowledge of the HUJ ecosystem with Evotec’s industry-scale development resources.
The partners expect to sustain multiple HUJ programs as they work towards proving concepts to the extent that the creation of new spinouts is justified.
Lab555 is the latest addition to Evotec’s international network of early-stage academic collaborations, branded Bridge as shorthand for Biomedical Research, Innovation and Development Generation Efficiency.
Evotec’s other academic initiatives include partnerships with Harvard University, Canada’s multi-university commercialisation unit Toronto Innovation Acceleration Partners, University of Oxford and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre.
Oxford and Evotec recently teamed up for a second time to start a digital health-focused scheme known as Lab10x, which also includes clinical artificial intelligence technology developer Sensyne Health as a backer.
Yaron Daniely, chief executive officer of Yissum, said: “The Lab555 partnership highlights Hebrew University’s groundbreaking and advanced research in the life sciences and addresses an urgent global need to explore and initiate accelerated modes of therapeutic drug development.”
Werner Lanthaler, CEO of Evotec, added: “We are delighted to see the further roll-out of our Bridge model to Israel. Lab555 is a great addition to our Bridge family and we are confident that with our strong partners, Integra Holdings and Yissum, we will be able to accelerate the efficient development of next-generation drugs.”
