MorphoSys's business unit, AbD Serotec delivers high-quality antibodies to the research market. Successful acquisitions of U.K. and U.S.-based antibody suppliers with strong catalog and industrial antibody production business have significantly strengthened and broadened MorphoSys's position in the research antibody market. In April 2006, on the back of its Q1 results, the Company announced plans to consolidate its U.K. operations at a single site in Oxford. The operation is now complete and the Company looks forward to growing its research antibody business from this new base in the U.K.
U.K. Minister of State for Science and Innovation, Malcolm Wicks, said: 'The U.K. has a deserved reputation for excellence in biotechnology. This new facility demonstrates further that the U.K. is an attractive location for European businesses to invest. I welcome this investment by the MorphoSys Group, which links two of Europe's most successful biotech clusters, and wish the company well for its plans to grow its business in the U.K. and abroad.'
'The Oxford region provides us with a strong infrastructure and a high concentration of excellent academic researchers and innovative biotechnology companies - both potential customers for our technology,' commented Dr. Simon Moroney, Chief Executive Officer of MorphoSys AG. 'Since the U.K. represents one of the top three markets for our research antibody segment operating under the AbD Serotec brand, a strong presence in this region will remain a key element of our future strategy.'
The official opening ceremony of the new AbD Serotec facility at Endeavour House will take place today, January 22, 2007, at 10.30 a.m. in Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford. Please arrive in good time to be seated before the official start of the ceremony. Key note speakers at today's official opening ceremony are Malcolm Wicks, Minister of State for Science and Innovation and Dr. Simon Moroney, Chief Executive Officer of MorphoSys Group.