MorphoSys and Daiichi Sankyo Forge Alliance to Develop Novel Antibody
Therapies against Hospital-Acq
(Thomson Reuters ONE) - Corporate news announcement processed and transmitted by Hugin AS.The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ MorphoSys Secures First Therapeutic Alliance Focused on InfectiousDiseasesMorphoSys AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: MOR; Prime Standard Segment)announced today the formation of a new alliance with DAIICHI SANKYOCOMPANY, LIMITED (TSE: 4568) in the discovery and development oftherapeutic antibodies for hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infections.Daiichi Sankyo becomes MorphoSys's first collaborator for HuCALPLATINUM®-based drug discovery in infectious diseases."This is another landmark deal for MorphoSys and is our firstinitiative in the infectious disease arena," commented Dr. SimonMoroney, Chief Executive Officer of MorphoSys AG. "Today's news isproof that MorphoSys can tap new growth opportunities in thetherapeutic antibody field on top of the established partnerships theCompany has in place. We see lucrative opportunities for our newHuCAL Platinum technology in the infectious disease field, which weintend to exploit within selected partnerships in the years ahead."Under the terms of the agreement, MorphoSys and Daiichi Sankyo willcollaboratively apply HuCAL PLATINUM, the latest and most powerfulversion of MorphoSys's antibody libraries. The companies will jointlyapply established as well as novel approaches to generate optimized,fully human therapeutic antibodies against targets associated withnosocomial infections. Daiichi Sankyo will also commit to funding thedevelopment of certain infectious disease specific technology atMorphoSys, which will be used to identify the most effectiveantibody-based drugs.Total payments under the agreement include committed license fees andR&D funding in addition to success-based development milestones.MorphoSys also stands to receive royalties on sales of marketed drugsemerging from the collaboration.There is a large, unmet need for effective, long-lasting drugsagainst pathogens in difficult to treat nosocomial infections.Current mortality rates in the specific area of focus are reported as40%-60%, due primarily to resistance to existing antibiotics. Theglobal market for such drugs targeted solely at blood streaminfections and hospital acquired pneumonia is estimated to exceed $1billion.MorphoSys and Daiichi Sankyo started working together in 2006 in acollaboration that has resulted to date in four active therapeuticantibody programs mainly in oncology. The new agreement is built onthe strong existing relationship between the partners.About 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 AGAbout DAIICHI SANKYODAIICHI SANKYO is a global pharmaceutical company that focuses onresearching and marketing innovative medications. The company wascreated in 2005 through the merger of two traditional Japaneseenterprises, Daiichi and Sankyo. With net sales of nearly 5.9 billion? in fiscal year 2008, DAIICHI SANKYO is one of the world's 20leading pharmaceutical companies. The company's world headquarters isin Tokyo, and its European base is located in Munich. DAIICHI SANKYOhas affiliates in 12 European countries and has been one of thestrongest Japanese pharmaceutical companies located in Europe sinceit set up European production facilities and marketing offices in1990. The company's research activities focus on the areas ofcardiovascular diseases, hematology, diabetes, anti-infectives andcancer. Its aim is to develop medications that are "best" in theirclass or to create new classes of pharmaceutical drugs. For moreinformation, please visit: www.daiichi-sankyo.eu.This 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.For more information, please contact:MorphoSys AGDr. Claudia Gutjahr-LöserHead of Corporate Communications & IRPhone: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-122claudia.gutjahr-loeser(at)morphosys.comMario BrkuljSenior Manager Corporate Communications & IRPhone: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-454mario.brkulj(at)morphosys.comJessica KulpiSpecialist Corporate Communications & IRPhone: +49 (0) 89 899 27 332jessica.kulpi(at)morphosys.comDAIICHI SANKYO EUROPEThorsten SchüllerHead of Media Relations EuropeTel: + 49 (0)89/78 08 657thorsten.schueller(at)daiichi-sankyo.euhttp://hugin.info/130295/R/1348468/324555.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: 20.10.2009 - 07:31 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
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