Evotec and MaRS Launch Fibrocor Therapeutics

Evotec and MaRS Innovation launched Fibrocor Therapeutics, a Toronto-based company focused on developing therapeutics targeting fibrotic diseases, on Jan. 17, 2017. The company was launched with approximately $2.1 million in financing, including cash from MaRS Innovation. Evotec will provide all drug discovery activities and will receive an equity stake in Fibrocor.

Fibrocor’s academic and clinical team includes Richard Gilbert MD, PhD, Canada research chair in Diabetic Complications and head of Endocrinology at St. Michael's Hospital and scientist with the hospital's Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, Darren Yuen, MD, PhD, nephrologist with St. Michael's and scientist with the Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, and Jeff Wrana, PhD, senior investigator at Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System.

The company's core focus will be to develop novel therapeutics that have the potential to prevent, slow, and ultimately reverse the course of fibrosis. Fibrocor has identified a lead program and will partner with Evotec to develop novel molecules with the anticipation of nominating a lead candidate in 2018. Fibrocor will also collaborate with its academic co-founders to expand access to tissue samples to include several relevant tissues, such as lung, liver, kidney, colon, and skin.

Source: Evotec