Just - Evotec Biologics Receives Grant for AI-Driven Optimization of Monoclonal Antibody Developability for Affordable Access

Rhea-AI Summary

Evotec (NASDAQ:EVO) announced that its Seattle subsidiary, Just - Evotec Biologics, received a Gates Foundation grant (INV072135) to fund AI-driven molecular optimization of monoclonal antibodies and other biologics.

The grant will support ten J.MD™ projects over three years, using the J.MD™ molecular design suite within the J.DESIGN™ platform to improve titer, pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, stability and manufacturability to reduce cost of goods and expand global access for low- and middle-income countries.

This continues a collaboration dating to 2014 with prior cGMP campaigns for RSV, malaria, and HIV antibodies.

Positive

• Grant enables 10 J.MD projects over the next three years
• Continues long-term Gates collaboration with prior cGMP campaigns for RSV, malaria, HIV

Negative

• None.

Key Figures

New J.MD projects 10 projects Grant-funded J.MD™ molecular optimization projects

Project horizon three years Timeline over which the 10 J.MD™ projects will run

Collaboration start 2014 Start of Just - Evotec Biologics’ commitment with the foundation

Market Reality Check

$3.68 Last Close

Volume Volume 116,379 is below 20-day average 251,632 (relative volume 0.46). low

Technical Price 3.63 is trading slightly below the 200-day MA at 3.7.

Peers on Argus

EVO gained 8.36% while key peers were mixed: AMPH -1.8%, DVAX -0.16%, TLRY -2.92%, PCRX +2.16%, HROW -6.35%, indicating a stock-specific move tied to the grant news.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Jan 02	Management change	Neutral	+3.3%	Appointment of new EVP leading integrated communications and IR function.
Dec 08	Asset sale deal	Positive	-3.5%	Closure of Toulouse site sale to Sandoz with potential >US$650m payments.
Dec 04	Clinical trial update	Positive	+1.1%	Partner Bayer started Phase 2 study for Alport syndrome antibody.
Nov 12	Milestone payment	Positive	+5.7%	US$5m milestone after FDA IND acceptance in BMS protein degradation pact.
Nov 05	Earnings update	Negative	-15.7%	9M 2025 revenues down, adjusted EBITDA loss despite confirming guidance.

Pattern Detected

Stock reactions generally aligned with news tone, with one notable divergence on a large asset transaction.

Recent Company History

Over recent months, Evotec reported mixed operational and strategic updates. On Nov 5, 2025, 9M 2025 results showed €535.1m group revenue (down YoY) and an adjusted EBITDA loss, prompting a -15.74% move. A US$5m IND milestone from Bristol Myers Squibb on Nov 12, 2025 and a Phase 2 start with Bayer on Dec 4, 2025 saw modest positive reactions. The >US$650m Sandoz Toulouse-site deal on Dec 8, 2025 drew a negative price response, while a leadership change in early Jan 2026 had a small positive effect. Today’s AI-focused Gates Foundation grant fits this pattern of partnership-driven news flow.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights a new Gates Foundation grant funding 10 J.MD™ projects over three years to optimize monoclonal antibody developability and cost. It extends a collaboration dating back to 2014 and reinforces Evotec’s AI-enabled biologics design positioning. In recent months, the company has paired such partnerships with large asset transactions and mixed financial results, so investors may watch how efficiently this AI-driven work converts into revenues and margins over time.

Key Terms

monoclonal antibodies medical

"optimize monoclonal antibodies ("mAbs") and other biologic modalities"

Monoclonal antibodies are lab-made proteins designed to bind a single, specific target on cells or viruses, like identical keys cut to fit one lock. They are used as medicines, tests, or targeted delivery tools and can precisely block or mark disease processes. Investors care because they can become high-value drugs with large sales, long patent protection, and binary risks tied to clinical trial results, regulatory approval, manufacturing scale and pricing.

pharmacokinetics medical

"including, but not limited to: improved titer, pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, and stability"

Pharmacokinetics is the study of how a substance, such as a drug or chemical, moves through and is processed by the body over time. It tracks how it is absorbed, distributed, broken down, and eventually eliminated. For investors, understanding pharmacokinetics helps gauge the effectiveness, safety, and potential risks of new medications or treatments, which can influence a company’s success and valuation in the healthcare industry.

immunogenicity medical

"including, but not limited to: improved titer, pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, and stability"

Immunogenicity is the ability of a substance, such as a vaccine or medication, to provoke an immune response in the body. It matters to investors because high immunogenicity can affect the effectiveness and safety of a product, potentially leading to increased costs or regulatory challenges. Understanding immunogenicity helps assess the long-term viability and market potential of pharmaceutical and biotech investments.

biotherapeutics medical

"enable global access to biotherapeutics utilizing Just - Evotec Biologics'"

Biotherapeutics are medicines made from living cells or biological molecules—such as proteins, antibodies, vaccines, or engineered cells and genes—designed to prevent, treat, or cure disease by working with the body’s natural systems. They matter to investors because they can offer groundbreaking, high-value treatments but also come with higher development, manufacturing and regulatory complexity, so their commercial success can drive large stock moves like a breakthrough product or a failed trial.

cGMP technical

"has since delivered multiple cGMP manufacturing campaigns for RSV, Malaria, and HIV"

cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practice) are government-enforced quality standards that manufacturers must follow to ensure drugs, medical devices, and related products are made consistently, safely, and meet specified quality tests. For investors, cGMP compliance is like a restaurant passing health inspections: it reduces the risk of product recalls, regulatory fines, or production stoppages that can hurt revenue and company value, and it supports market access and long-term trust.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

• Just - Evotec Biologics will optimize monoclonal antibodies ("mAbs") and other biologic modalities

• Investment enables ten new J.MD^™ projects encompassing molecular optimization including, but not limited to: improved titer, pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, and stability, over the next three years

HAMBURG, DE / ACCESS Newswire / January 8, 2026 / Evotec SE (NASDAQ:EVO)(Frankfurt Prime Standard:EVT) today announces that its Seattle-based subsidiary, Just - Evotec Biologics, Inc., has received a new grant from the Gates Foundation to enable global access to biotherapeutics utilizing Just - Evotec Biologics' molecular design suite of computational technologies, called "J.MD^™".

Investment (INV072135) continues the support for selected Gates Foundation grantees to improve the developability and reduce the cost of goods of monoclonal antibodies to make them more affordable and accessible and prevent infectious disease in low- and middle-income countries.

Under the grant terms, Just - Evotec Biologics will leverage its J.MD^™ Molecular Design service - a key component of its J.DESIGN^™ platform, that integrates advanced computational tools and high-throughput methodologies to streamline the biologics development process. By optimizing molecular design from the earliest stages, J.MD^™ ensures manufacturability, stability, and efficacy-critical factors for reducing costs and enabling expansion of global access to these therapies as well as limiting liabilities like immunogenicity and instability. The new investment will enable ten (10) new J.MD^™ projects over the next three years, spanning the development of biotherapeutics targeting multiple global health disease indications of concern.

This grant extends the commitment of Just - Evotec Biologics, that began in 2014 and has since delivered multiple cGMP manufacturing campaigns for RSV, Malaria, and HIV monoclonal antibodies.

Dr. Linda Zuckerman, EVP and Global Head of Just - Evotec Biologics, commented: "We are thrilled to receive this new grant from the Gates Foundation which will strengthen our commitment to reducing the cost of biologics development to expand global access. By leveraging our J.DESIGN^™ platform and innovative molecular design tools, we look forward to supporting the foundation in driving impactful solutions across multiple disease areas and continuing to deliver therapies where they are needed most."

Dr. Cord Dohrmann, Chief Scientific Officer of Evotec, added: "We are proud to continue our collaboration with the foundation through this new grant which enables us to harness Just - Evotec Biologics' advanced platforms and scientific expertise to support the broader research ecosystem. This partnership strengthens our shared mission to accelerate the development of biotherapeutics that address urgent and unmet medical needs."

For expert insights about the importance of thoughtful antibody design driving global access, watch our virtual roundtable, Antibody Design to Support Global Health Initiatives, featuring key voices from the Gates Foundation and global health researchers.

About Just - Evotec Biologics
Just - Evotec Biologics, wholly owned by Evotec SE, is a first-to-industry biologics platform company that leverages AI/ML technologies and world-leading molecular design, cell line development, process intensification and continuous manufacturing strategies to advance biotherapeutics from discovery through clinical stages to commercial launch. The Just - Evotec Biologics team combines deep industry experience in the fields of data, protein, process, and manufacturing sciences including automation with highly integrated and flexible capabilities to break through the scientific and economic barriers associated with the development of protein therapeutics. Our focus is to accelerate and expand access to biotherapeutics through scientific and technological innovation for our proprietary projects and on behalf of our partners. Learn more at www.just-evotecbiologics.com.

About Evotec SE
Evotec is a life science company that is pioneering the future of drug discovery and development. By integrating breakthrough science with AI-driven innovation and advanced technologies, we accelerate the journey from concept to cure - faster, smarter, and with greater precision.

Our expertise spans small molecules, biologics, cell therapies and associated modalities, supported by proprietary platforms such as Molecular Patient Databases, PanOmics and iPSC-based disease modeling.

With flexible partnering models tailored to our customers' needs, we work with all Top 20 Pharma companies, over 800 biotechs, academic institutions, and healthcare stakeholders. Our offerings range from standalone services to fully integrated R&D programs and long-term strategic partnerships, combining scientific excellence with operational agility.

Through Just - Evotec Biologics, we redefine biologics development and manufacturing to improve accessibility and affordability.

With a strong portfolio of over 100 proprietary R&D assets, most of them being co-owned, we focus on key therapeutic areas including oncology, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, neurology, and immunology.

Evotec's global team of more than 4,800 experts operates from sites in Europe and the U.S., offering complementary technologies and services as synergistic centers of excellence. Learn more at www.evotec.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X/Twitter @Evotec.

Forward-looking statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements concerning future events, including the proposed offering and listing of Evotec's securities. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "should," "target," "would" and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements include comments regarding Evotec's expectations for revenues, Group EBITDA and unpartnered R&D expenses. These forward-looking statements are based on the information available to, and the expectations and assumptions deemed reasonable by Evotec at the time these statements were made. No assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates, which are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of Evotec. Evotec expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Evotec's expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

SOURCE: Evotec SE

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

FAQ

What did Evotec (EVO) announce on January 8, 2026 regarding the Gates Foundation grant?

Just - Evotec Biologics received a Gates Foundation grant (INV072135) to fund AI-driven molecular optimization of mAbs and other biologics.

How many projects will the Gates Foundation grant fund for Just - Evotec Biologics (EVO)?

The grant will enable ten J.MD™ projects spanning three years.

What technologies will Just - Evotec Biologics use under the EVO-supported grant?

The company will use its J.MD™ molecular design service within the J.DESIGN™ platform to optimize manufacturability, stability, immunogenicity, titer, and pharmacokinetics.

Which disease areas does the Gates Foundation grant target through Evotec (EVO)?

The projects span biotherapeutics targeting multiple global health disease indications, building on prior work for RSV, malaria, and HIV.

Does the announcement disclose the grant amount for Evotec (EVO)?

No financial amount or dollar value for the grant was disclosed in the announcement.