MorphoSys Announces Clinical Milestone in Cancer Program with Bayer
Schering Pharma
(Thomson Reuters ONE) - Corporate news announcement processed and transmitted by Hugin AS.The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eighth HuCAL Antibody to Enter Clinical TrialsMorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX) announcedtoday that Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Germany has filed all necessarydocumentation to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial with aHuCAL-derived antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) in the therapeutic areaof oncology. This achievement marks a significant milestone withinthe Bayer Schering Pharma alliance and triggers a payment toMorphoSys."Today's news underlines how important our core technology is to thepharmaceutical industry's drug pipeline," commented Dr. SimonMoroney, Chief Executive Officer of MorphoSys AG. "We now haveclinical trials of HuCAL-based antibodies ongoing with four differentpharmaceutical companies. The output of our partners' application ofMorphoSys's proprietary HuCAL technology is becoming an increasinglyvisible and important value driver for our Company."The current program is directed against the target molecule MN, alsoknown as Carbonic Anhydrase or CA IX for short, a tumor associatedantigen expressed in many tumor types under hypoxic conditions. Theantibody is the first fully human HuCAL-based ADC to enter clinicaltrials. ADCs comprise antibodies linked to cytotoxic drugs, andcombine the targeting properties of the antibody with thecell-destroying effect of the conjugated drug. In the presentprogram, the HuCAL-derived antibody-drug conjugate incorporatestechnology licensed to Bayer Schering Pharma from Seattle Genetics.MorphoSys projected that in 2009 between two and four partneredprograms could enter clinical trials. Today's news represents thethird HuCAL-derived antibody to achieve this stage during the courseof the year. By the end of this year, at least three antibodies fromproprietary and partnered programs are expected to be in Phase 2clinical trials. This program becomes the eighth HuCAL-derivedcompound in all to enter clinical trials.For further information please contact: Dr. Claudia Gutjahr-Löser,Head of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations, Tel: +49 (0)89 / 899 27-122, gutjahr-loeser(at)morphosys.com or Mario Brkulj, SeniorManager Corporate Communications & Investor Relations, Tel: +49 (0)89 / 899 27-454, brkulj(at)morphosys.comAbout MorphoSys:MorphoSys is an independent biotechnology company that develops novelantibodies for therapeutic, diagnostic and research applications. TheCompany's HuCAL technology is one of the most powerful methodsavailable for generating fully human antibodies. By successfullyapplying this and other proprietary technologies, MorphoSys hasbecome a leader in the field of therapeutic antibodies, one of thefastest-growing drug classes in human health-care. Through itsalliances with some of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies,MorphoSys has created a pipeline of more than 60 drug candidates. TheCompany is expanding its drug pipeline by adding new partneredprograms, and by building a portfolio of fully-owned therapeuticantibodies. For its proprietary portfolio, the Company is focused onthe areas of oncology and inflammation, within which it plans to haveeight active programs by the end of 2009. Its most advanced programis MOR103, a first-in-class, fully human antibody against GM-CSF.MorphoSys expects to commence a Phase Ib/IIa trial of this antibodyin rheumatoid arthritis patients in the second half of 2009. Via itsbusiness unit AbD Serotec, MorphoSys is expanding the reach of itstechnologies in the diagnostics and research markets. MorphoSys isheadquartered in Munich, Germany and listed on the Frankfurt StockExchange under the symbol "MOR". For further information, visithttp://www.morphosys.com/HuCAL®, HuCAL GOLD®, HuCAL PLATINUM® and RapMAT® are registeredtrademarks of MorphoSys AGThis communication contains certain forward-looking statementsconcerning the MorphoSys group of companies. The forward-lookingstatements contained herein represent the judgment of MorphoSys as ofthe date of this release and involve risks and uncertainties. Shouldactual conditions differ from the Company's assumptions, actualresults and actions may differ from those anticipated. MorphoSys doesnot intend to update any of these forward-looking statements as faras the wording of the relevant press release is concerned.http://hugin.info/130295/R/1340055/320141.pdf --- End of Message ---MorphoSys AGLena-Christ-Str. 48 Martinsried / München GermanyWKN: 663200; ISIN: DE0006632003; Index: CDAX, HDAX, Prime All Share, TECH All Share, TecDAX, MIDCAP;Listed: Prime Standard in Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse, Freiverkehr in Börse Berlin, Freiverkehr in Börse Düsseldorf, Freiverkehr in Hanseatische Wertpapierbörse zu Hamburg, Freiverkehr in Niedersächsische Börse zu Hannover, Freiverkehr in Bayerische Börse München, Freiverkehr in Börse Stuttgart, Regulierter Markt in Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse;
Datum: 08.09.2009 - 07:30 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
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