MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX) announced today that Phadia AB, a world leader in autoimmunity and allergy testing, has implemented a series of HuCAL-based recombinant antibodies in its marketed autoimmune tests Varelisa(TM) and EliA(TM). Thereby Phadia becomes the first diagnostic company to introduce recombinant antibodies in an autoimmune screening platform. AbD Serotec, MorphoSys's division for research and diagnostic antibodies, receives license fees and will continuously supply Phadia with recombinant antibody material. Further financial details were not disclosed.

 

Phadia and AbD Serotec began collaborating in September 2005, bringing together Phadia's expertise in the development, manufacturing and marketing of complete blood test systems and AbD Serotec's leading recombinant antibody technology HuCAL. AbD Serotec has generated a series of recombinant antibodies in the IgA, IgM and IgG1 format, which Phadia will implement in its marketed autoimmune tests Varelisa(TM), a classical ELISA microtiter platform, and the fully automated system for the measurement of autoantibodies EliA(TM). The set of recombinant HuCAL antibodies provided by AbD Serotec act as recombinant control antibodies and replace human serum to standardize autoimmune assays.

 

Autoimmune diseases include juvenile diabetes, various forms of rheumatism, hepatitis, thyroiditis and a variety of skin diseases. An early diagnosis can improve the treatment options and increase the quality of life for patients significantly. However, since the early symptoms, especially of systemic autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid disorders, can be very diffuse, several years can pass from the onset of the disease until a correct diagnosis is made. New easy-to-use and cost-effective diagnostic methods could shorten the time-to-diagnosis and subsequent treatment.

 

'Phadia has a long track record in using advanced techniques such as recombinant gene technology to produce a wide range of precise and reliable diagnostic tests for autoimmune diseases,' commented Stefan Eschbach, Vice President of Phadia. 'The use of recombinant control antibodies was shown to increase the accuracy and reproducibility of diagnostic tests. AbD Serotec's ability to generate these highly-specific recombinant antibodies in various formats using the HuCAL technology has been extremely helpful in this regard.'

 

'Today's news marks the first market entry of a clinical diagnostic kit comprising a HuCAL antibody,' commented Dr. Simon Moroney, Chief Executive Officer of MorphoSys. 'This development is a significant step forwards for recombinant antibody technology in the diagnostics field, and a major operational milestone for our AbD unit.'

 

For further information please contact: Dr. Claudia Gutjahr-Löser, Head of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations, Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-122, gutjahr-loeser@morphosys.com or Mario Brkulj, Manager Corporate Communications & Investor Relations, Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-454, brkulj@morphosys.com