MorphoSys AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: MOR; Prime Standard Segment) announced today a non-exclusive license agreement with Dutch biotechnology company Crucell N.V. (Euronext/NASDAQ: CRXL) and allied contract manufacturer DSM Biologics. Under the terms of the agreement, MorphoSys receives rights to Crucell's PER.C6(R) fully human cell line technology for use in its own and partnered antibody research programs conducted at MorphoSys. Furthermore, MorphoSys and its partners have an option to obtain a license for the clinical and commercial production of antibodies isolated from the MorphoSys HuCAL(R) library. The human cell line has been shown to be suited to the development and large-scale manufacturing of a wide range of biologics including antibodies. Financial details were not disclosed.

Crucell's fully human PER.C6(R) cell line is an established technology for the production of antibodies. Thus, MorphoSys is broadening its technology base and diversifies its offering for existing and new partners. The advantages of PER.C6(R) include high-yield production of antibodies, fast production cycles and the provision of human glycosylation patterns.

'A key part of our strategy is to maintain technological leadership by incorporating the latest innovations in human as well as bacterial production systems into our platform', commented Dr. Simon Moroney, Chief Executive Officer of MorphoSys AG.