MilliporeSigma Collaborates with Evotec for Faster Target Identification Solution

• Accelerates screening of customized CRISPR and shRNA libraries
• Eliminates need for resource-intensive in-house assay development and screening

Billerica, Massachusetts, November 30, 2016 — MilliporeSigma today announced that it has entered into a set of agreements with Evotec AG, whereby Evotec AG will provide screening services for MilliporeSigma’s collection of genetic reagents such as CRISPR and shRNA libraries. Combining access to these libraries with Evotec’s screening expertise offers an accelerated pathway to explore and identify new drug targets.   

“Drug discovery starts with the identification of new targets, a process that can be time- and labor-intensive,” said Theresa Creasey, Head of Applied Solutions Strategic Marketing & Innovation, MilliporeSigma. “Our collaboration with Evotec accelerates the discovery workflow, enabling customers to more rapidly and efficiently explore disease pathways and find new targets.”

The collaboration allows customers to select a customized set of CRISPR and shRNA libraries, and then leverage Evotec’s extensive capabilities in phenotypic screening within primary and induced pluripotent stem cells and in vivo disease models. The target identification workflow is further accelerated through the use of custom-engineered cell lines developed by MilliporeSigma’s Cell Design Studio. These cell lines are used by Evotec to customize screening assays and deliver answers more efficiently. 

“This agreement with MilliporeSigma further strengthens our offering in the area of target identification and validation,” said Mario Polywka, PhD, Chief Operating Officer of Evotec. “Deploying MilliporeSigma’s assay-ready reagents on our cellular screening platforms and in vivo models creates powerful drug discovery capabilities and more value to our customers through such a comprehensive solution.”

MilliporeSigma partners with the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute for its arrayed CRISPR library covering the entire human genome. The company is also the manufacturer and distributor of the world’s largest RNAi clone library, created in collaboration with The RNAi Consortium.

About the Life Science Business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
The life science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, which operates as MilliporeSigma in the U.S. and Canada, has 19,000 employees and 65 manufacturing sites worldwide, with a portfolio of more than 300,000 products enabling scientific discovery. Udit Batra is the global chief executive officer of MilliporeSigma.

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany completed its $17 billion acquisition of Sigma-Aldrich in November 2015, creating a leader in the $125 billion global life science industry.

Merck KGaA of Darmstadt, Germany is a leading company for innovative and top-quality high-tech products in healthcare, life science and performance materials. The company has six businesses – Biopharmaceuticals, Consumer Health, Allergopharma, Biosimilars, Life Science and Performance Materials – and generated sales of €12.85 billion in 2015. Around 50,000 employees work in 66 countries to improve the quality of life for patients, to foster the success of customers and to help meet global challenges.

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is the world’s oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company – since 1668, the company has stood for innovation, business success and responsible entrepreneurship. Holding an approximately 70 percent interest, the founding family remains the majority owner of the company to this day. The company holds the global rights to the name and the trademark “Merck” internationally except for the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials.