Evotec has signed a fresh agreement with Roche to develop compounds to treat Alzheimer’s disease.

Evotec will receive a $10m licensing fee upfront, with the focus of agreement being the company’s monoamine oxidase type B inhibitor, EVT-302.

The compound hopes to treat Alzheimer’s disease by preventing the breakdown of neurotransmitters and disrupting the inflammation of neurons in the brain.

Roche will fund the clinical development, manufacture and commercialisation of the compound, with Evotec standing to receive development and milestone payments of up to $820m.