MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX) announced today that it has received a milestone payment from Pfizer in connection with the IND filing in December 2010 and subsequent initiation of a phase 1 clinical trial of a HuCAL-derived, fully human antibody in the therapeutic area of oncology.
'We are delighted to add Pfizer to the list of partner companies running clinical trials with HuCAL-based antibodies,' commented Dr. Marlies Sproll, Chief Scientific Officer of MorphoSys AG. 'In total, seven different partners from the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry are currently running clinical trials with our antibodies.'
MorphoSys and Pfizer originally entered a collaboration for the development of therapeutic antibodies in December 2003. In December 2006, MorphoSys announced an early expansion of its collaboration with Pfizer. Under the extended agreement, Pfizer secured an option to begin several therapeutic antibody projects with MorphoSys.
MorphoSys's clinical pipeline currently comprises ten partnered programs in Phase 1 and five in Phase 2 development as well as the Company's proprietary programs MOR103, which is in a Phase 1b/2a trial for rheumatoid arthritis, and MOR208, which is in a Phase 1 trial for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
About MorphoSys:
MorphoSys is an independent biotechnology company that develops novel antibodies for therapeutic, diagnostic and research applications. The Company's HuCAL technology is one of the most powerful methods available for generating fully human antibodies. By successfully applying this and other proprietary technologies, MorphoSys has become a leader in the field of therapeutic antibodies, one of the fastest-growing drug classes in human health-care. Through its alliances with some of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, MorphoSys has created a pipeline of more than 60 drug candidates. The Company is expanding its drug pipeline by adding new partnered programs, and by building a portfolio of fully-owned therapeutic antibodies. For its proprietary portfolio, the Company is focused on the areas of oncology and inflammation. Its most advanced program MOR103, a first-in-class, fully human antibody against GM-CSF, is currently being tested in a Phase Ib/IIa trial in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Via its business unit AbD Serotec, MorphoSys is expanding the reach of its technologies in the diagnostics and research markets. MorphoSys is headquartered in Munich, Germany and listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol 'MOR'. For further information, visit http://www.morphosys.com/
HuCAL®, HuCAL GOLD®, HuCAL PLATINUM®, CysDisplay® and RapMAT® are registered trademarks of MorphoSys; arYlaTM is a trademark of MorphoSys.