MorphoSys AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX) today announced the signing of a PER.C6® license agreement with Dutch biotechnology company Crucell N.V. (Euronext, NASDAQ: CRXL) and technology partner DSM Biologics. This license agreement allows MorphoSys to use the PER.C6® cell line in the production of clinical grade material for the development of its proprietary therapeutic cancer antibody program MOR202. MOR202 is a fully human HuCAL antibody directed against CD38, a therapeutic target for the treatment of multiple myeloma and certain leukemias. Financial details on these agreements were not disclosed.

 

This set-up brings together a fully human antibody to treat blood-borne cancers with production capabilities in the same fully-human environment. Manufacturing human antibodies in such a manner offers several potential advantages over alternative production methods.

 

'Today's news shows that MorphoSys's MOR202 program is on track towards the next development stages - formal pre-clinical development in 2008 and 2009 and the filing of an application for clinical trials early 2010,' commented Dr. Marlies Sproll, Chief Scientific Officer of MorphoSys. 'Based on the positive experiences we have gained with Crucell's cell line and DSM's manufacturing capabilities within our lead program MOR103 we have chosen to continue to use this set-up for MOR202.'

 

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