Evotec has received a $10 million milestone payment from Bristol Myers Squibb following the initiation of a Phase 1 clinical study evaluating BMS-986506. The study marks the first clinical evaluation of the CELMoD agent in advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma, the most common form of kidney cancer.
The first patient has been dosed, signaling a transition into clinical development for the Evotec–Bristol Myers Squibb protein degradation platform. The program focuses on molecular glue degraders designed to target disease-driving proteins. The milestone reflects progress within a broader collaboration aimed at establishing new treatment approaches in oncology.
The candidate emerged from a joint discovery effort that integrates Evotec’s multi-omics screening and AI-supported analytics with Bristol Myers Squibb’s CELMoDs™ library. Evotec’s platform combines high-performance PanOmics screening with PanHunter analytics to identify and prioritize drug candidates based on large-scale proteomics and transcriptomics data.
Dr. Cord Dohrmann, Chief Scientific Officer of Evotec, highlighted the significance of the milestone. “In this unique collaboration, we follow a systematic approach to discovering molecular glues with tremendous therapeutic potential. Together with Bristol Myers Squibb, and building on Evotec’s PanOmics and PanHunter platforms, we have identified a broad portfolio of high-potential molecular glue drug candidates that are now beginning to enter clinical development. The initiation of this Phase 1 clinical trial marks the first clinical milestone in the strategic protein degradation partnership with BMS. Molecular glues have the potential to address significant unmet medical need not only in oncology, but far beyond, by targeting previously undruggable, disease-causing proteins and thereby aiming to reshape future standards of care.“
Working in analytical science?
Register for a FREE Separation Science account to subscribe to the Separation Science Newsletter.
The collaboration began in 2018 and expanded in 2022. It targets the discovery and development of molecular glue degraders across oncology and other therapeutic areas. The approach combines Evotec’s PanOmics and PanHunter platforms with Bristol Myers Squibb’s CELMoDs™ agents to identify high-value targets.
Molecular glue degraders function by inducing interactions between an E3 ubiquitin ligase and a target protein. This interaction leads to ubiquitination and degradation of the protein. The mechanism expands the range of druggable targets by enabling the removal of proteins previously considered inaccessible to conventional small molecules.
Evotec applies high-throughput proteomics and transcriptomics to generate comprehensive cell biological profiles. PanHunter supports the integration and analysis of these datasets, enabling the selection of candidates for further development. The clinical progression of BMS-986506 validates this platform and its role in advancing molecular glue degraders into the clinic.
This article is based on a press release by Evotec.
