Positive Preclinical Data

Evolutec Group PLC
27 February 2006


For immediate release                                27 February 2006



EVOLUTEC GROUP PLC

                           ('Evolutec' or 'Company')



                  POSITIVE PHARMACOKINETIC PROFILE FOR rEV131



 Further details in analyst briefing and webcast of Evolutec's results for the
        year ended 31 December 2005 to be announced on 28 February 2006



Evolutec Group plc (AIM: EVC), the biopharmaceutical company developing novel
products for the treatment of allergic, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, is
pleased to announce a positive preclinical metabolic result for its lead
molecule, rEV131.



This study demonstrates that rEV131 has a favourable pharmacokinetic profile
including:



  • a circulating half-life of approximately 8 hours;
  • uniform tissue distribution; and
  • 95 per cent clearance from the body via the renal route within 24 hours.



This profile is well suited for a drug intended for use once or twice a day in
indications such as allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and asthma. Furthermore, the
trial showed that rEV131 does not cross the blood brain barrier, reducing the
possibility of unwanted effects such as drowsiness.



Mark Carnegie Brown, Evolutec's Chief Executive Officer, commented: 'This result
underpins the potential of rEV131, our lead drug product candidate.  It also
endorses Evolutec's technology and approach, which is based around proteins
sourced from the saliva of ticks.'



Further details will be included in a briefing tomorrow for analysts on
Evolutec's 2005 results, which will be held at 10.30am (28 February 2006) at the
offices of Buchanan Communications, 45 Moorfields, London EC2Y 9AE.



The briefing will also be webcast live. To connect to the webcast, please go to
the Company's website: http://www.evolutec.co.uk approximately 10 minutes
(10.20am) before the start of the briefing. The webcast will also be available
for replay shortly after the presentation.

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 is a biopharmaceutical company developing drugs for allergy,
inflammation and autoimmune disease.



Evolutec's lead drug candidate, rEV131 has efficacy in both acute and chronic
respiratory indications including allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and asthma.  In
2005, Evolutec announced a positive result for rEV131 in a 112 patient Phase IIa
proof of concept study in allergic rhinitis.  rEV131 met the primary efficacy
endpoint (p < 0.05).  In addition, rEV131 showed efficacy against mucus and
congestion, the most difficult to treat symptoms of rhinitis as well as a rapid
onset of action.



Evolutec intends to carry out additional proof of concept Phase II trials with
rEV131 in post-cataract surgery and dry eye.  Positive preclinical data has also
been generated in asthma.  rEV131 is a histamine binding protein and is
understood to be the only product currently in clinical trials that impacts the
recently discovered H4 receptor, a receptor implicated in many forms of
inflammatory disease.



The Company has a further two molecules in preclinical development. rEV576, a
complement inhibitor that was very effective in a preclinical model of
myasthenia gravis, and rEV598, which is being evaluated in carcinoid syndrome
and CINV (chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting). Evolutec is working with
Merial to develop anti-tick and anti-tick borne disease vaccines.



Evolutec, which is based in Reading, UK, was founded in 1998 to exploit research
carried out by the Natural Environment Research Council.  Evolutec's drugs were
first isolated from the saliva of ticks but are now manufactured by bacterial
fermentation procedures. The tick remains undetected by its hosts, including
humans, by injecting an array of molecules into the skin that suppresses normal
defence mechanisms.  These stealth molecules have evolved over millions of years
to enable the tick to take a blood meal from its host. 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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