Merial Option Agreement

Evolutec Group PLC
04 April 2006


For immediate release                                               4 April 2006



                               EVOLUTEC GROUP PLC

                         ('Evolutec' or 'the Company')
                   Evolutec and Merial Sign Option Agreement

Evolutec Group plc (AIM: EVC), the biopharmaceutical company developing novel
products for the treatment of allergic, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, is
pleased to announce that Merial Limited, a world-leading, innovation-driven
animal health company, has signed an option agreement covering the animal health
uses of Evolutec's vaccine technology.

This new agreement follows the positive result announced in 2005 in which Merial
demonstrated that Evolutec's vaccine technology significantly reduced the level
of Boophilus tick infestation in cattle, a cause of major productivity losses
due to disease transmission, hide (skin) damage and anaemia.

The agreement grants Merial an exclusive option to acquire exclusive worldwide
rights to Evolutec's vaccine technology for animal health uses in return for
licensing and milestone fees and a royalty on sales.

Merial's development programme will evaluate Evolutec's technology in the area
of vaccines against important tick-borne diseases in production and companion
animals and anti-tick vaccines. Any future development work will be undertaken
at Merial's expense.

Mark Carnegie Brown, Evolutec's Chief Executive, commented: 'We are delighted
that Merial has decided to continue its evaluation of Evolutec's vaccine
technology through this new agreement.'

Speaking for Merial, Bob Nordgren, Vice President of Biological Research and
Technology Acquisition, added: 'Merial is pleased to secure an option on
commercial rights to Evolutec's vaccine technology for use in animal health.'

                                      ENDS

For further information:
Evolutec                                                           0118 922 4480
Mark Carnegie Brown, Chief Executive Officer
Nicholas Badman, Chief Financial Officer
www.evolutec.co.uk

Buchanan Communications                                            020 7466 5000
Mark Court/Tim Anderson/Mary-Jane Johnson



Notes for Editors:

About Evolutec

Evolutec, which is based in Reading, UK, is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical
company with a focus on allergy, inflammation and auto-immune diseases.

The Company has completed a positive 112 patient proof of concept Phase IIa
clinical trial with rEV131, its lead product, in allergic rhinitis.  rEV131 met
the primary endpoint of reducing the sum of symptom scores at statistically
significant levels within 45mins of administration. Evolutec intends to complete
a further Phase IIb trial in allergic rhinitis and additional proof of concept
Phase II trials in post-cataract surgery and dry eye in 2006. Positive
pre-clinical data has also been generated in asthma. rEV131 is a histamine
binding protein that impacts the H1, H2 and recently discovered H4 histamine
receptor.  This mode of action gives rEV131 a unique product profile of reducing
both early and late stage inflammation.

The Company has a further two products in pre-clinical development: rEV598,
which is being evaluated in CINV (chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting), and
rEV576, a complement inhibitor indicated for treating reperfusion injury in
ischemic heart disease, stroke and cardiopulmonary bypass.

Evolutec is listed on the London Stock Exchange and develops therapeutics
originally isolated from the saliva of ticks. The tick remains undetected by its
hosts, including humans, by injecting an array of molecules into the skin that
suppresses host immunity. These stealth molecules have undergone millions of
years of natural evolution to select a promising efficacy, potency and safety
profile. Evolutec employs the tick's evolutionary stealth technology to offer
the potential of treating human diseases.

Safe Harbour statement: this news release may contain forward-looking statements
that reflect the current expectations of the Company regarding future events.
Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual events could
differ materially from those projected herein and depend on a number of factors
including the success of the Company's research strategies, the applicability of
the discoveries made therein, the successful and timely completion of clinical
studies, the uncertainties related to the regulatory process, the successful
integration of completed mergers and acquisitions and achievement of expected
synergies from such transactions, and the ability of the Company to identify and
consummate suitable strategic and business combination transactions.




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