Evotec and Bristol Myers Squibb have initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial of the molecular glue degrader BMS-986506 for clear cell renal cell carcinoma, triggering a $10 million milestone payment to Evotec.
Written By: Nikita Jha, PharmD
Reviewed By: Pharmacally Editorial Team
Evotec SE has announced that its partner, Bristol Myers Squibb, has initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating the investigational CELMoD agent BMS-986506 for the treatment of clear cell renal cell carcinoma, the most common type of kidney cancer. The first-in-human study marks a key milestone in the companies’ strategic collaboration focused on targeted protein degradation.
The candidate was discovered through the joint research partnership between Evotec SE and Bristol Myers Squibb, which combines Evotec’s integrated drug discovery technologies with BMS’s expertise in cereblon E3 ligase modulators. The advancement of BMS-986506 into clinical testing triggers a $10 million milestone payment to Evotec.
BMS-986506 is a cereblon E3 ligase modulator (CELMoD), a class of molecular glue degraders designed to selectively eliminate disease-driving proteins inside cancer cells. The molecule was generated using Evotec’s PanOmics multi-omics screening platform and PanHunter AI-driven data analytics system, which integrate large-scale proteomics and transcriptomics data to identify and optimize novel drug candidates.
Dr. Cord Dohrmann, Chief Scientific Officer of Evotec, said the collaboration follows a systematic strategy to discover molecular glue therapeutics with broad clinical potential. He noted that multiple candidates identified through the PanOmics and PanHunter platforms are now progressing toward clinical development. The initiation of the Phase 1 trial represents the first clinical milestone in the companies’ strategic protein degradation partnership.
Unlike conventional small-molecule drugs that simply block or activate protein activity, molecular glue degraders work through an event-driven mechanism. These compounds induce interactions between a target protein and an E3 ubiquitin ligase, leading to ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of the disease-causing protein. Because the molecule itself is not consumed in the process, it can repeatedly trigger protein degradation, potentially resulting in longer-lasting therapeutic effects and enabling the targeting of proteins previously considered “undruggable.”
The Evotec–Bristol Myers Squibb collaboration in molecular glues began in 2018, originally with Celgene prior to its acquisition by Bristol Myers Squibb. The partnership was expanded in 2022 and aims to build a pipeline of molecular glue degraders for oncology and other diseases by combining Evotec’s discovery platforms with BMS’s extensive library of CELMoD agents.
With the launch of the BMS-986506 trial, the collaboration moves a novel protein-degradation therapy into clinical evaluation, potentially expanding treatment options for patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma while advancing the broader field of targeted protein degradation.
Reference
Evotec Receives $10 M Milestone from Bristol Myers Squibb Protein Degradation Collaboration for Clinical Study Initiation, 19 March 2026, Evotec Receives $10 M Milestone from Bristol Myers Squibb Protein Degradation Collaboration for Clinical Study Initiation – Evotec
About the Writer
Nikita Jha BPharm is a pharmacy graduate with expertise in clinical research, pharmacovigilance, and medical writing. In her words, she is passionate about translating complex scientific data into clear, accurate healthcare communications that advance drug safety and patient care.