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RSIL and Evotec announce joint venture

The Ernst and Young Award for Health and Lifesciences was awarded to Dr Cyrus Poonwaala, Chairman and Managing Director, Serum Institute of India, the leading vaccine manufacturer, by Sheila Dikshit, Honourable Chief Minister of Delhi, in the presence of K V Kamath, Chairman, ICICI Bank, at an award function in the capital recently

Research Support International (RSIL), a subsidiary of DIL (formerly Duphar-Interfran) and Evotec, announced the formation of a joint venture in India, Evotec-RSIL, to design, synthesise and manage compound libraries as a service. The joint venture will combine Evotec's expertise in library design, synthesis, analysis, purification and project management with RSIL's first class scientists coupled with a low cost structure in India to provide a high quality, cost efficient solution for the provision and management of compound libraries to the pharmaceutical industry.

The pharmaceutical industry is seeking cost efficient solutions for the continual enhancement of their screening libraries. Whilst looking for cost effectiveness, the design and synthesis of high quality compounds using strong project management is critical. Evotec has a strong track record in this field as exemplified by collaborations with companies such as Bayer, Merck, Almirall Prodesfarma, Roche and Solvay. The joint venture will be located in Thane, and will use newly constructed, state-of-the-art laboratories. Evotec will contribute its proprietary technologies, years of experience and expertise in library synthesis in addition to providing a range of parallel synthesis equipment, high throughput analytical apparatus and expert training in the design, synthesis and management of compund libraries.

Evotec-RSIL will design compound libraries of low hundreds to thousands of compounds per scaffold by accessing chemistries already validated at Evotec and/or RSIL. Along with designing and synthesising compound libraries, the joint venture will also offer library management services, in which it will be able to analyse and purify large screening libraries in a cost efficient manner. "Evotec has enjoyed an enviable reputation in the synthesis of large screening and focused libraries for many years. Through this joint venture we are able to team up with the excellent scientists and management at RSIL to continue to provide this invaluable service at competitive prices for our customers," said Dr Mario Polywka, Chief Operating Officer, Evotec. "With the formation of this joint venture through a contribution in kind of Evotec's library business, Evotec is making another significant step in its strategy to focus its core business in Europe on high value solutions and products for the pharmaceutical industry," he added.

Commenting on the joint venture RSIL's Director, Irfan Bandukwala, said, "This joint venture will be able to address the ever growing need of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies who want to outsource their library synthesis needs to highly skilled partners who offer expertise, experience and solutions at cost effective rates." Both RSIL and Evotec have an excellent and well established understanding and track record of providing services to the global pharmaceutical industry. Through our complimentary skills our customer will derive added value, which is so necessary to grow in this competitive business, thus addressing the ever growing desire for a win-win situation for all concerned."