MorphoSys AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: MOR; Prime Standard Segment) announced today that a HuCAL GOLD-derived fully human antibody against a non-disclosed target molecule in the therapeutic area of oncology has been advanced to a Phase 1 clinical trial. This Investigational New Drug application filing, resulting from MorphoSys collaboration with Novartis, triggers a clinical milestone payment to MorphoSys.
In May 2004, Novartis and MorphoSys signed a wide-ranging strategic antibody alliance to jointly develop new antibody-based therapeutics to treat a range of illnesses. As part of the collaboration, Novartis acquired an equity stake in MorphoSys of approximately EUR 9 million. In June 2006, MorphoSys and Novartis expanded the collaboration to include a greater number of new therapeutic antibody projects annually - resulting in increased Novartis funding for research at MorphoSys. The collaboration is scheduled to continue through May 2011.
'Seeing the first IND filing for a therapeutic program within our partnership with Novartis just three years after the initiation of the collaboration is an outstanding achievement and underscores the effectiveness and productivity of this highly interactive alliance,' commented Dr. Marlies Sproll, Chief Scientific Officer of MorphoSys AG. 'Today's news exemplifies the drug development strength of our HuCAL GOLD technology to deliver antibody lead candidates that can advance quickly from the antibody generation stage through pre-clinical testing to clinical trials.'
For further information please contact: Dr. Claudia Gutjahr-Löser, Head of Corporate Communications, Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-122, gutjahr-loeser@morphosys.com or Mario Brkulj, Manager Public Relations, Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-454, brkulj@morphosys.com