LAB eN², which aims to nurture early research from academic institutions into novel therapeutics, has selected its first three projects to move forward in the program from Boston University, Harvard University in collaboration with Mass General Brigham, and Joslin Diabetes Center.
Evotec and Novo Nordisk launched LAB eN² in September 2023 with four academic institutions, Harvard University, Mass General Brigham, Yale School of Medicine, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Under an expansion program, researchers from Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston University, Johns Hopkins University, Joslin Diabetes Center, and Icahn Mount Sinai can now also apply to LAB eN².
Leveraging access to Evotec’s integrated R&D platform and Novo Nordisk’s deep disease understanding, LAB eN² provides funding to design a drug discovery program and identify a therapeutic candidate across a range of therapeutic modalities. The program also offers scientific expertise and technology to help advance product concepts through preclinical proof of concept, at which point successful therapeutic product candidates may be selected by Novo Nordisk for further investment and development.
Focus on chronic cardiometabolic conditions
“We are thrilled to be able to start work on these first projects, leveraging Evotec’s integrated drug discovery and translational platforms and Novo Nordisk’s deep disease understanding,” said Thomas Hanke, PhD, EVP and head of academic partnerships at Evotec. “We are confident that LAB eN² will accelerate promising and innovative therapeutic concepts from bench to bedside in disease areas with significant unmet need. Together with our partner Novo Nordisk, this translational drug discovery accelerator provides an ideal breeding ground to take leading-edge academic science from concept to drug candidate.”
“We have been so impressed by the scientific ideas that have been uncovered through this program and our ongoing collaboration with our academic partners,” added Uli Stilz, head of Novo Nordisk’s Bio Innovation Hub. “The first selected projects offer novel approaches to address chronic cardiometabolic conditions, and we look forward to working with the primary investigators to advance their research. We launched LAB eN² with the intention to help bridge the translational research gap. We’ve been pleased with the progress so far and with the addition of five institutions, we have the opportunity to further our ability to drive more scientific ideas forward.”