Evogene and Unravel Biosciences Announce Collaboration to Develop a First-in-Class Therapy to Reverse Neurological Damage in Demyelinating Disorders

Rhea-AI Summary

Evogene (NASDAQ: EVGN) and Unravel Biosciences announced a collaboration on January 7, 2026 to discover and optimize a first-in-class small-molecule therapy aimed at restoring myelin and reversing neurological damage in demyelinating disorders including multiple sclerosis.

The program combines Evogene's ChemPass AI generative chemistry platform with Unravel's BioNAV predictive biology and Living Molecular Twins patient-derived data to design brain-penetrant inhibitors against a novel demyelination target discovered by Unravel. Work will use in vitro, in vivo, and in silico outcome simulation to advance lead candidates toward potential clinical development.

Positive

• Collaboration announced on January 7, 2026
• Combines ChemPass AI generative chemistry with BioNAV patient-derived modeling
• Program targets brain-penetrant inhibitors for a novel demyelination target

Negative

• Therapeutic program described at discovery/preclinical stage; no clinical readouts disclosed
• No financial or licensing terms disclosed for the collaboration

Key Figures

MS prevalence 3 million people Global multiple sclerosis patient population cited in article

Market Reality Check

$1.11 Last Close

Volume Volume 34,261 is below the 20-day average of 59,960 (relative volume 0.57x). low

Technical Price at $1.15 is trading below the 200-day MA of $1.22, with shares also 52.48% under the 52-week high.

Peers on Argus

Biotech peers show mixed moves: ERNA +8.55%, KZIA +9.7%, MBRX +4.83% versus LYRA -0.59% and MBIO -2.68%, pointing to stock-specific rather than broad sector drivers for EVGN.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 30	Management appointment	Positive	-3.2%	New VP of Business Development to scale ChemPass AI collaborations.
Nov 11	Strategic partnership	Positive	+4.6%	Casterra–Fantini collaboration to scale mechanized castor farming.
Nov 06	Earnings call schedule	Neutral	-1.7%	Announcement of Q3 2025 results release and conference call.
Aug 28	Conference participation	Positive	-1.3%	Presentation on ChemPass AI strategy at H.C. Wainwright conference.
Aug 19	Earnings and strategy	Positive	-4.2%	Q2 2025 results, asset sale, restructuring, and cash runway update.

Pattern Detected

Recent company and partnership news skew positive in tone, but EVGN has often traded lower on such updates, with only one clear positive-news day aligning with a positive price reaction.

Recent Company History

Over the last six months, Evogene focused on its ChemPass AI platform and business transformation. A Q2 2025 update on Aug 19, 2025 highlighted higher H1 revenues, lower operating expenses, asset sales, and cash runway, yet shares fell 4.22%. Conference participation on Sep 10, 2025 and management changes effective Jan 1, 2026 also saw modest declines. A castor-farming collaboration on Nov 11, 2025 was the only clearly positive news that coincided with a gain of 4.64%. Today’s AI-driven neurology collaboration continues this partnership-focused trajectory.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights Evogene’s collaboration with Unravel Biosciences to design brain‑penetrant small molecules for remyelination in demyelinating diseases, including an MS population of about 3 million people worldwide. It extends the company’s focus on applying ChemPass AI to high‑need indications. In light of recent restructuring and partnership activity, key items to watch include target validation progress, preclinical readouts, and any updates on how such collaborations translate into revenue and cash runway.

Key Terms

remyelination medical

"unmet need for remyelination therapies for multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating"

Remyelination is the biological process by which the protective insulating layer around nerve fibers, called myelin, is rebuilt after damage. Like rewrapping the insulation on an electrical wire to restore a signal, successful remyelination can improve nerve function and reduce disability, so therapies that promote it are closely watched by investors for their potential clinical benefit, regulatory interest, and commercial value.

multiple sclerosis medical

"remyelination therapies for multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating conditions"

A chronic neurological disease in which the immune system damages the protective coating (like insulation on electrical wires) around nerves, disrupting signals between the brain and body and causing symptoms such as numbness, weakness, vision problems, fatigue and mobility issues. It matters to investors because the unpredictability and long-term nature of the condition drive ongoing demand for treatments, influence the value of companies developing therapies, affect healthcare costs and shape regulatory and reimbursement decisions.

demyelinating diseases medical

"neurological damage in demyelinating diseases."

Demyelinating diseases are conditions in which the protective insulation (myelin) around nerve fibers is damaged, slowing or blocking electrical signals in the brain and nerves—think of frayed insulation on an electrical wire causing shorts or slow performance. They matter to investors because they drive demand for diagnostics, long-term treatments and rehabilitation, shape clinical trial risk and regulatory timelines for new drugs, and can create sizable, sustained markets for effective therapies.

brain-penetrant medical

"design and validate brain-penetrant inhibitors of a novel demyelination target"

A brain-penetrant drug or molecule can cross the brain’s natural security gate (the blood–brain barrier) to reach and act on cells inside the brain. For investors, that matters because treatments that reach the brain can address disorders like Alzheimer’s, depression, or brain cancer—opening large markets—but they also carry higher technical risk, stricter safety testing and unique regulatory challenges compared with drugs that act elsewhere in the body.

in vitro medical

"based on experimental insights generated by Unravel's in vitro and in vivo systems"

In vitro describes laboratory tests performed on cells, tissues, or biological molecules outside a living body—literally “in glass,” such as in test tubes or dishes. For investors, in vitro results are an early sign that a drug or technology has a desired effect under controlled conditions, but they don’t guarantee it will work or be safe in animals or people; think of them as a prototype tested on a bench rather than in real-world use.

in vivo medical

"experimental insights generated by Unravel's in vitro and in vivo systems"

In vivo describes tests or experiments performed inside a living organism, such as an animal or human, to observe how a drug, device or biological process behaves in a real, functioning body. Investors care because in vivo results reveal safety, effectiveness and possible side effects that lab tests cannot, much like road-testing a prototype car in traffic rather than only on a bench — outcomes can strongly influence regulatory approval, clinical success and a company’s valuation.

in silico technical

"and in silico clinical outcome simulation."

In silico means using computer models, simulations, or data analysis to study biological, chemical, or financial processes instead of physical experiments. For investors, in silico work can speed up research, lower costs and highlight promising opportunities or risks early—like using a flight simulator to test maneuvers before flying a real plane—while still requiring real-world testing to confirm results.

generative AI technical

"ChemPass AI engine and generative chemistry together with Unravel's patient"

Generative AI is a type of computer technology that can create new content, like text, images, or music, on its own. It’s important because it can produce realistic and useful material quickly, which could change how we create art, write stories, or even develop new products. Think of it as a smart robot that can invent and produce things almost like a human.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Partnership addresses the unmet need for remyelination therapies for multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating conditions by leveraging generative chemistry design and patient-derived predictive platform

REHOVOT, Israel and BOSTON, January 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Evogene Ltd. (Nasdaq: EVGN) (TASE: EVGN), a pioneering computational chemistry company, specializing in the generative design of small molecules for the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries, today announced a scientific collaboration with Unravel Biosciences, Inc., a clinical-stage therapeutics company established to advance drugs for complex diseases through its Predictable Medicine™ platform. This partnership aims to accelerate the discovery and optimization of a first-in-class small-molecule therapeutic capable of restoring myelin and reversing neurological damage in demyelinating diseases.

Degenerative diseases represent some of the most common and impactful disorders globally, affecting hundreds of millions of people. Among them, demyelinating diseases, most notably Multiple Sclerosis (MS), pose a significant clinical burden. MS alone affects approximately 3 million people worldwide and increasing each year. Current therapies focus on slowing disease progression and blocking immune activity, but they do not repair existing damage. To date, no approved therapy has been found to effectively reverse myelin loss and restore neurological function, highlighting an unmet need for millions of patients.

Evogene and Unravel have launched a joint effort to design and validate brain-penetrant inhibitors of a novel demyelination target discovered by Unravel's platform and create the first therapeutic designed to restore myelin and improve neurological function. By taking a function-first discovery approach, the collaboration aims at gaining unique biological insights from genetically defined demyelinating disorders. Such insights will enable translating the discovered underlying biological mechanisms that drive reversal of demyelination to a plethora of such disorders, overcoming the challenge of restoring neurological function in patients.

The collaboration brings together Evogene's ChemPass AI's state-of-the-art computational capabilities for generative molecular design with Unravel's AI-powered BioNAV™ predictive biology platform and Living Molecular Twins™ patient datamine. Using advanced RNA-based network simulations, primary patient data, and predictive AI modeling, Unravel generates novel therapeutic insights and drug targets. This deep scientific understanding will be coupled with Evogene's generative AI models, purpose-built to optimize drug candidates across multiple key parameters, offering a synergistic solution.

The collaboration is aimed at leveraging ChemPass AI's advanced algorithms and models to advance novel drug targets for remyelination, thereby deciphering the molecular requirements for meaningful disease reversal. Along with establishing key chemical and biological features that novel small molecules must possess to facilitate remyelination, ChemPass AI powers advancing lead candidates through its generative AI-guided optimization, based on experimental insights generated by Unravel's in vitro and in vivo systems and in silico clinical outcome simulation.

Dr. Richard Novak, Unravel Biosciences' CEO, stated: "We are thrilled to partner with Evogene to design optimized new therapeutic candidates to promote remyelination for MS and other neurodegenerative disorders. The synergistic combination of Evogene's ChemPassAI engine and generative chemistry together with Unravel's patient RNA-derived Living Molecular Twins™ demonstrates the acceleration of drug development driven by novel data and advanced algorithms, since patients cannot wait."

Mr. Ofer Haviv, Evogene's President and CEO, stated: "This collaboration with Unravel Biosciences integrates cutting-edge scientific innovation with urgent clinical needs. Unravel has achieved the critical, complex work of identifying and validating a novel, druggable target that can reverse demyelination. Our ChemPass AI engine, along with the generative model ChemPassGPT, is uniquely equipped to design and optimize novel small molecules to efficiently hit this target and ensure brain-penetrance required for clinical efficacy. We expect our joint effort to pave the way for transformative treatments for patients which today have limited therapeutic options."

About Evogene Ltd.

Evogene Ltd. (Nasdaq/TASE: EVGN) is a pioneering company in computational chemistry, specializing in the generative design of small molecules for the pharmaceutical and agricultural industries.

At the core of its technology is ChemPass AI, a proprietary generative AI engine that enables the design of novel, highly potent small molecules optimized across multiple critical parameters. This powerful platform significantly improves success rates while reducing development time and costs.

Built on this powerful technological foundation, and through strategic partnerships alongside internal product development, Evogene is focused on creating breakthrough products driven by the integration of scientific innovation with real-world industry needs. We call this approach "Real-World Innovation".

Learn more at: www.evogene.com.

About Unravel Biosciences, Inc.

Unravel Biosciences is a clinical-stage therapeutics company that integrates AI systems biology computation with rapid clinical validation of discovered targets, leading to four clinical trials starting in 2026.  Unravel leverages its proprietary BioNAV™ platform and primary transcriptomics data to create Living Molecular Twins of real patients that can be used to predict therapeutic response. This enables target and drug discovery, preclinical screening, patient stratification, and clinical validation to find treatments for complex diseases using a systematic, data-driven approach called Predictable Medicine™.

Unravel's platform discovered RVL002, a first-in-class small molecule that targets mitochondrial metabolism and has multiple clinical applications, including neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders, and identified RVL069, a molecule that targets a novel mechanism to treat dystonias. The rareSHIFT™ program provides platform and proprietary datamine access to foundation and biotech partners to accelerate and clinically derisk therapeutics. www.unravel.bio and www.rareshift.org

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" relating to future events. These statements may be identified by words such as "may," "could," "expects," "hopes," "intends," "anticipates," "plans," "believes," "scheduled," "estimates," "demonstrates" or words of similar meaning. For example, Evogene and its subsidiaries are using forward-looking statements in this press release when it discusses the success of the collaboration to accelerate the discovery and optimization of a first-in-class small-molecule therapeutic capable of restoring myelin and reversing neurological damage in demyelinating diseases, create the first therapeutic designed to restore myelin and improve neurological function, the generation of novel therapeutic insights and drug targets.  Such statements are based on current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions, describe opinions about future events, involve certain risks and uncertainties which are difficult to predict and are not guarantees of future performance. Therefore, actual future results, performance or achievements of Evogene and its subsidiaries may differ materially from what is expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, many of which are beyond the control of Evogene and its subsidiaries, including, without limitation, the current war between Israel and Hamas and any worsening of the situation in Israel such as further mobilizations or escalation in the northern border of Israel and those risk factors contained in Evogene's reports filed with the applicable securities authority. In addition, Evogene and its subsidiaries rely, and expect to continue to rely, on third parties to conduct certain activities, such as their field-trials and pre-clinical studies, and if these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties, comply with regulatory requirements or meet expected deadlines, Evogene and its subsidiaries may experience significant delays in the conduct of their activities. Evogene and its subsidiaries disclaim any obligation or commitment to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments or changes in expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions.

Evogene Investors Relations Contact:
Email: ir@evogene.com
Tel: +972-8-9311901
Unravel Investor Relations Contact:
Email: contact@unravel.bio

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1947468/Evogene_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/evogene-and-unravel-biosciences-announce-collaboration-to-develop-a-first-in-class-therapy-to-reverse-neurological-damage-in-demyelinating-disorders-302655069.html

SOURCE Evogene

FAQ

What did Evogene (EVGN) and Unravel announce on January 7, 2026?

They announced a collaboration to design and optimize a first-in-class small-molecule therapy to restore myelin in demyelinating disorders.

How will Evogene's ChemPass AI contribute to the EVGN–Unravel program?

ChemPass AI will perform generative molecular design and optimization to create brain-penetrant small-molecule candidates against the novel target.

What Unravel platforms are being used in the EVGN collaboration?

The collaboration uses Unravel's BioNAV predictive biology platform and Living Molecular Twins patient-derived data for target validation and simulation.

Does the EVGN–Unravel collaboration report any clinical results or timelines?

No clinical readouts or development timelines were disclosed; the work is described using in vitro, in vivo, and in silico systems.

Will the EVGN collaboration produce a therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS)?

The collaboration aims to develop a therapy to restore myelin and reverse neurological damage in MS and other demyelinating disorders, but no clinical approvals are reported.

Are financial terms or licensing details for EVGN's deal with Unravel disclosed?

No financial, licensing, or payment terms were disclosed in the announcement.