Positive Vaccine Result

Evolutec Group PLC
31 August 2005


For immediate release                                             31 August 2005


                              EVOLUTEC GROUP PLC
                         ('Evolutec' or 'the Company')

                       Positive anti-tick vaccine result
  Merial Ltd. ('Merial') to continue development work in tick-borne diseases


Evolutec Group plc (AIM: EVC), a biopharmaceutical company developing novel
products for the treatment of allergic, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, is
pleased to announce that Merial, a world-leading, innovation-driven animal
health company, has completed the initial testing of Evolutec's anti-tick
vaccine candidate in cattle and obtained encouraging results.

Merial's initial anti-tick screen against Boophilus ticks in cattle, a cause of
major productivity losses due to disease transmission, hide damage and anaemia,
has shown that Evolutec's vaccine significantly reduced the level of tick
infestation.

On the basis of this positive result, Merial has decided to continue proof of
concept work on Evolutec's vaccine technology.  Merial now intends to evaluate
the vaccine candidates against tick-borne diseases of economic importance.

A research programme to evaluate the vaccines against tick-borne diseases is
under definition and a new agreement with Merial will be drawn up to cover this
work.

Mark Carnegie Brown, Evolutec's Chief Executive, commented: 'We are encouraged
by this result and delighted that Merial have decided to continue their
assessment of our vaccine technology against tick-borne diseases. Evolutec's
technology also has the potential to translate into human vaccine applications.'

Speaking for Merial, Bob Nordgren, Head of Biological Research and Technology
Acquisition, added: 'As a research-driven company with a history of bringing
innovative vaccines to the market, Merial is pleased to collaborate with
Evolutec on this project, which has yielded encouraging results.'



ENDS



For further information:

Evolutec                                                          0118 922 4480

Mark Carnegie Brown, Chief Executive Officer
Nicholas Badman, Chief Financial Officer
www.evolutec.co.uk


Robert W. Baird                                                   020 7488 1212
Shaun Dobson/Xavier de Mol

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 commenced a 112 patient proof of concept Phase II clinical trial
with rEV131, its lead product, in allergic rhinitis.  Evolutec intends to carry
out additional proof of concept Phase II trials with rEV131 in post-cataract
surgery and dry eye.  Positive pre-clinical 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 products in pre-clinical development: rEV598,
which is being evaluated in carcinoid syndrome and CINV (chemotherapy-induced
nausea and vomiting), and rEV576, a complement inhibitor.

Evolutec 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. 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.



                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange