Evotec SE. (4/15/20). "Press Release: Just – Evotec Biologics Develops AI-driven Humanoid Antibody Library (“HAL”)". Seattle, WA.

	Organisation	Evotec SE (FSE: EVT, MDA X/TecDAX)
	Group	Evotec (Group)
	Organisation 2	Just – Evotec Biologics Inc.
	Group	Evotec (Group)
	Product	HAL AI-driven humanoid antibody library
	Product 2	artificial intelligence (AI) / machine learning

Just – Evotec Biologics announced today that the Company has compiled a library of a new class of humanoid antibodies using a novel, AI-derived approach. Antibodies are proteins produced and secreted by B-cells. As they bind to foreign substances that invade the body, such as pathogens and a plethora of other targets, they represent an important class of biologics-based therapeutics. However, patient accessibility is currently quite limited, as B-cells do not undergo selective pressure in vivo to produce antibodies with ideal biotherapeutic characteristics. Additionally, protein scientists have traditionally had to rely on the very limited scope of previously-discovered antibodies and their close variants to develop predictive models of complex antibody behaviour.

Just – Evotec Biologics’ data and laboratory scientists have developed a novel antibody library generation method using Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), that enables controlled design of biological and structural features for therapeutic quality and developability. This approach creates a new class of AI-derived humanoid antibodies that mimic the diversity and properties of the human antibody repertoire while optimising the antibodies for development, manufacturing, and in use characteristics that make them better suited as biotherapeutics. HAL is expected to serve as a highly efficient starting point for drug discovery and development projects across a broad range of indications.

Click here to read a pre-print of the article at bioRxiv.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Information set forth in this press release contains forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgement of Evotec as of the date of this press release. Such forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Record changed: 2020-05-14