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<title>MorphoSys Corporate Press Releases</title>
<description>MorphoSys is one of the world&amp;apos;s leading biotechnology companies focusing on fully human antibodies. Corporate press releases can be subscribed by RSS feed.</description>
<language>en</language>
<link>http://www.morphosys.com/en-pressreleases.xml</link>
<copyright>MorphoSys AG</copyright>
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<title><![CDATA[MorphoSys AG Reports Positive Results for Fiscal Year 2009]]></title>
<link>http://www.morphosys.com/en/news_investors/press-release-714.html</link>
<guid>http://www.morphosys.com/en/news_investors/press-release-714.html</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 25 Feb 2010 07:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[   Pipeline Expansion and Solid Top-line Growth    Press conference call (in German) today at 10:00 am CET Conference call and webcast of the analyst meeting and press conference (in English)today at 02:00 pm CET (01:00 pm GMT; 08:00 am EST)   MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment; TecDAX) today announced its financial results according to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for the three-months' period and financial year ending December 31, 2009. The Company increased full-year Group revenues by 13 % to EUR 81.0 million (2008: EUR 71.6 million). Operating profit amounted to EUR 11.4 million (2008: EUR 16.4 million). The year-on-year decrease was a direct result of the planned increased investment in proprietary development in the amount of EUR 19.3 million in 2009 (up from EUR 8.9 million in 2008). Group net profit after taxes decreased to EUR 9.0 million (2008: EUR 13.2 million) due to the higher level of R&amp;D investment. At the end of the year 2009, MorphoSys's cash position amounted to EUR 135.1 million (2008: EUR 137.9 million).   Highlights of the Year 2009 · Proprietary Development Progress: Established a team with strong preclinical and clinical expertise; Added three new proprietary programs to supplement lead compounds MOR103 and MOR202. · First Proprietary Program in Phase 1b/2a: Advanced lead program MOR103 into first patient trial in rheumatoid arthritis (RA); Decision on second indication successfully concluded based on sound pre-clinical data. · Strong Growth of Partnered Drug Pipeline: Partnered pipeline increased to three programs in Phase 2, with a further four programs in Phase 1; Expansion of partnered pipeline to 65 active therapeutic antibody projects by end of 2009 (up from 55 at the end of 2008). · New Growth Opportunities in Infectious Diseases: First HuCAL PLATINUM-based alliance in infectious disease space with Daiichi Sankyo. · AbD Serotec: Solid top-line growth and profit margin; Further penetrating the diagnostics industry. · Technology: New antibody library HuCAL PLATINUM firmly established in R&amp;D processes; Progress on new antibody technologies to continue in 2010.   "MorphoSys enters 2010 as a well-positioned and mature company with a promising product portfolio, a sustainable partnered business and a prospering AbD segment providing strong financial results. This is an excellent basis for our future," stated Dr. Simon Moroney, Chief Executive Officer of MorphoSys AG. "Increasingly, the Company's clinical pipeline is taking centre stage. At the end of 2009, four HuCAL-based programs were in Phase 2 clinical trials with another four compounds in Phase 1. Clinical proof-of-concept with HuCAL antibodies is rapidly approaching. During 2009, we looked closely at potential acquisitions as a means of adding to our portfolio of proprietary product candidates, but nothing that we found justified the investment that would have been required. We are therefore no longer actively pursuing acquisition as a means of adding to our pipeline. We are, however, interested in  supplementing our existing technology platform and accelerating the growth of the AbD Serotec segment in the diagnostics field." "In 2009, the partnered discovery segment continued to show a very respectable performance, providing the MorphoSys Group with the financial wherewithal to channel substantial investment into proprietary R&amp;D while allowing us to report an operating profit according to our expectations. This is a unique profile in our industry," commented Dave Lemus, Chief Financial Officer of MorphoSys AG, adding "AbD Serotec reported a satisfying increase in profit margin, which included above-market top-line growth performance."   Financial Review for the Fiscal Year 2009 (IFRS) Group revenues for the full year 2009 amounted to EUR 81.0 million (2008: EUR 71.6 million), an increase of 13 % over the prior year. Segment revenues arising from the Partnered Discovery segment comprised  48.6 million in funded research and licensing fees (2008:  44.4 million) as well as  13.1 million in success-based payments (2008:  9.9 million). Segment revenues arising from the Proprietary Development segment included  1.0 million in funded research (2008: no revenues). The AbD Serotec research antibody segment generated 24 % or EUR 19.4 million of total revenues (2008: EUR 18.2 million). Assuming constant foreign exchange rates at the average rate of 2008, revenues in the AbD Serotec segment would have amounted to  19.7 million, an increase of 8.2 % over 2008. Total operating expenses for the full year 2009 increased by 26 % to EUR 69.6 million (2008: EUR 55.2 million). The strong increase of  14.4 million was mainly caused by higher proprietary research and development (R&amp;D) expenses and partially as a result of increased sales, general and administrative (S, G&amp;A) expenses. Cost of goods sold (COGS) decreased by 6 % to EUR 6.7 million (2008: EUR 7.1 million). Research and development expenses rose by EUR 11.4 million or 41 % to EUR 39.0 million in 2009 (2008: EUR 27.6 million). The increase in R&amp;D expenses mainly resulted from a higher level of investment in proprietary product development (including segment allocations) amounting to EUR 19.3 million (2008: EUR 8.9 million). Sales, general and administrative expenses increased by EUR 3.4 million to EUR 23.9 million (2008: EUR 20.5 million), mainly caused by increased costs for consulting services and personnel costs. Non-cash charges related to stock-based compensation are embedded in COGS, S,G&amp;A and R&amp;D expenses and amounted to EUR 1.7 million (2008: EUR 1.0 million). Total Group operating profit decreased to EUR 11.4 million (2008: EUR 16.4 million). Partnered Discovery showed a segment operating profit of  39.6 million (2008:  34.4 million) while  19.3 million were invested into proprietary development (2008: investment of  8.9 million). In the AbD Serotec segment, operating profit significantly increased to  1.0 million (2008:  0.4 million), an operating margin of 5 %. Non-operating income and expenses, including taxes, amounted in 2009 to EUR (2.5) million (2008: non-operating expenses of EUR 3.2 million). For the full year 2009, MorphoSys realized a net profit of EUR 9.0 million compared to a net profit of EUR 13.2 million in the previous year. The resulting diluted earnings per share for the year 2009 amounted to EUR 0.40 (2008: EUR 0.59). On December 31, 2009, the Company had EUR 135.1 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, compared to EUR 137.9 million as of December 31, 2008. Net cash outflow from operations in 2009 amounted to EUR 1.0 million (2008: net cash inflow EUR 28.6 million). The main reasons for the cash outflow were reduced profits, an increase in accounts receivable, and changes in the composition of deferred revenue. The number of issued shares at December 31, 2009 was 22,660,557, compared to 22,478,787 shares at December 31, 2008.   Fourth Quarter of 2009 (IFRS) In the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company generated revenues of EUR 23.4 million, compared to EUR 18.4 million in the same quarter of 2008, an increase of 28 %. Total operating expenses amounted to EUR 21.4 million, compared to EUR 17.1 million in the same quarter of 2008. The increase of operating expenses was mainly due to increased costs for consulting services and personnel costs. The resulting operating profit amounted to EUR 2.1 million (Q4 2008: EUR 1.3 million). Net profit for the fourth quarter 2009 was EUR 1.3 million, compared to EUR 1.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2008.   Outlook for 2010 For 2010, MorphoSys anticipates total Group revenues of between EUR 89 million and EUR 93 million and anticipates an operating profit in the range of EUR 5 million to EUR 9 million. Backed by its sound financial position, MorphoSys will continue to increase its investment in proprietary R&amp;D to between EUR 26 million and EUR 29 million during 2010. In addition, the Company continues to invest in technology development. For 2010, MorphoSys expects to make major progress in advancing its product pipeline and by the end of the year the Company projects its partnered and proprietary pipeline to comprise up to 14 programs in clinical trials, thereof at least 4 antibodies in Phase 2. MorphoSys's management team will provide a more detailed outlook in today's press conference and conference call.     MorphoSys will hold its analyst meeting and press conference today in Frankfurt to present the Annual Financial Results 2009 and the Outlook 2010. Dial-in number for the press conference call (in German) at 10:00 am CET: Germany:                               +49 (0) 89 2444 329 75   Dial-in number for the analyst meeting and press conference at 02:00 pm CET; 01:00 pm GMT; 08:00 am EST (listen-only): Germany:                         +49 (0) 89 2444 329 75 For UK residents:            +44 (0) 20 3003 2666 For US residents:            +1 212 999 6659   Please dial in 10 minutes before the beginning of the conference. In addition, MorphoSys offers participants the opportunity to follow the presentation through a simultaneous slide presentation online at http://www.morphosys.com. A live webcast, slides, webcast replay and transcript will be made available at  http://www.morphosys.com. Approximately two hours after the press conference, a slide-synchronized audio replay of the conference will be available on http://www.morphosys.com.            About MorphoSys: MorphoSys is an independent biotechnology company that develops novel antibodies for therapeutic, diagnostic and research applications. The Company's HuCAL technology is one of the most powerful methods available for generating fully human antibodies. By successfully applying this and other proprietary technologies, MorphoSys has become a leader in the field of therapeutic antibodies, one of the fastest-growing drug classes in human health-care. Through its alliances with some of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, MorphoSys has created a pipeline of more than 60 drug candidates. The Company is expanding its drug pipeline by adding new partnered programs, and by building a portfolio of fully-owned therapeutic antibodies. For its proprietary portfolio, the Company is focused on the areas of oncology and inflammation. Its most advanced program MOR103, a first-in-class, fully human antibody against GM-CSF, is currently tested in a Phase Ib/IIa trial in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Via its business unit AbD Serotec, MorphoSys is expanding the reach of its technologies in the diagnostics and research markets. MorphoSys is headquartered in Munich, Germany and listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "MOR". For further information, visit http://www.morphosys.com/   HuCAL®, HuCAL GOLD®, HuCAL PLATINUM®, CysDisplay® and RapMAT® are registered trademarks of MorphoSys AG.     This communication contains certain forward-looking statements concerning the MorphoSys group of companies. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgment of MorphoSys as of the date of this release and involve risks and uncertainties. Should actual conditions differ from the Company's assumptions, actual results and actions may differ from those anticipated. MorphoSys does not intend to update any of these forward-looking statements as far as the wording of the relevant press release is concerned.  For more information, please contact: MorphoSys AG  Dr. Claudia Gutjahr-Löser  Head of Corporate Communications &amp; IR Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-122   Mario Brkulj  Senior Manager Corporate Communications &amp; IR Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-454   Jessica Kulpi Specialist Corporate Communications &amp; IR Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-332   investors@morphosys.com]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[AbD Serotec Significantly Improves Antibody Generation Process]]></title>
<link>http://www.morphosys.com/en/news_investors/press-release-712.html</link>
<guid>http://www.morphosys.com/en/news_investors/press-release-712.html</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 23 Feb 2010 07:30:00 +0100</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[   Automation and HuCAL PLATINUM Support Increase in Success Rates to 98%   MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX) today announced that its research and diagnostic antibody unit AbD Serotec has demonstrated significant progress using the HuCAL-based technology platform to generate custom-made monoclonal antibodies for research and diagnostic use. Over the course of the last four years, AbD Serotec gradually improved success rates year-on-year starting at 80% in 2006 to reach 98% in 2009. This was mainly achieved through a high degree of automation in many aspects of the antibody generation process, by optimizing protocols and finally by the implementation of HuCAL PLATINUM, the latest and most powerful version of MorphoSys's antibody libraries. "Thanks to the very effective technology and process development efforts at AbD Serotec, we have managed to deliver antibodies in almost every customer project we initiated in 2009. The success rates achieved by AbD Serotec in 2009 are significantly higher than the average success rate usually seen in the industry with animal-based methods, of around 75%,'' commented Dieter Feger, Head of AbD Serotec. "The HuCAL technology is making ever-increasing inroads into the diagnostics market as its intrinsic advantages are recognized."     About MorphoSys: MorphoSys is an independent biotechnology company that develops novel antibodies for therapeutic, diagnostic and research applications. The Company's HuCAL technology is one of the most powerful methods available for generating fully human antibodies. By successfully applying this and other proprietary technologies, MorphoSys has become a leader in the field of therapeutic antibodies, one of the fastest-growing drug classes in human health-care. Through its alliances with some of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, MorphoSys has created a pipeline of more than 60 drug candidates. The Company is expanding its drug pipeline by adding new partnered programs, and by building a portfolio of fully-owned therapeutic antibodies. For its proprietary portfolio, the Company is focused on the areas of oncology and inflammation. Its most advanced program MOR103, a first-in-class, fully human antibody against GM-CSF, is currently tested in a Phase Ib/IIa trial in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Via its business unit AbD Serotec, MorphoSys is expanding the reach of its technologies in the diagnostics and research markets. MorphoSys is headquartered in Munich, Germany and listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "MOR". For further information, visit http://www.morphosys.com/   HuCAL®, HuCAL GOLD®, HuCAL PLATINUM® and RapMAT® are registered trademarks of MorphoSys AG   This communication contains certain forward-looking statements concerning the MorphoSys group of companies. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgment of MorphoSys as of the date of this release and involve risks and uncertainties. Should actual conditions differ from the Company's assumptions, actual results and actions may differ from those anticipated. MorphoSys does not intend to update any of these forward-looking statements as far as the wording of the relevant press release is concerned.   For more information, please contact: MorphoSys AG  Dr. Claudia Gutjahr-Löser  Head of Corporate Communications &amp; IR Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-122   Mario Brkulj  Senior Manager Corporate Communications &amp; IR Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-454   Jessica Kulpi Specialist Corporate Communications &amp; IR Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-332   investors@morphosys.com]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[MorphoSys and Galapagos Expand Antibody Alliance]]></title>
<link>http://www.morphosys.com/en/news_investors/press-release-710.html</link>
<guid>http://www.morphosys.com/en/news_investors/press-release-710.html</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Feb 2010 07:30:00 +0100</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX) and Galapagos NV (Euronext: GLPG) announce that they have expanded their antibody alliance in bone and joint diseases.  Based on the solid progress made so far, the partners have agreed to add another antibody target to the alliance, thereby increasing the total number of programs to four. The alliance aims to discover and develop antibody therapeutics based on novel modes of action in bone and joint diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.  As part of the initial agreement, three targets were selected for the collaboration.  Antibodies with high specificity towards the first target have been generated and are now being tested in disease-specific in vitro and in vivo experiments.  In parallel, Galapagos has applied its target discovery platform to identify additional targets for antibody development.  Based on this, Galapagos and MorphoSys have now added a fourth antibody target to the alliance. The partners have prioritized the targets in order to maximize the value and IP position of the respective therapeutic antibody programs. "This collaboration provides Galapagos with a platform to develop antibody drugs for our proprietary targets," said Onno van de Stolpe, Chief Executive Officer of Galapagos.  "This, together with more than 40 R&amp;D small molecule programs, solidifies our leading position in discovering innovative approaches to address diseases with unmet medical need." "The expansion of our proprietary pipeline is a key value driver for our company. In 2010, we plan to add up to four new proprietary programs including both fully owned and co-development opportunities such as with Galapagos," commented Dr. Marlies Sproll, Chief Scientific Officer of MorphoSys. "Our alliance with Galapagos gives us access to novel disease-related target molecules which could build the basis for first-in-class antibody therapies in the future."      About MorphoSys: MorphoSys is an independent biotechnology company that develops novel antibodies for therapeutic, diagnostic and research applications. The Company's HuCAL technology is one of the most powerful methods available for generating fully human antibodies. By successfully applying this and other proprietary technologies, MorphoSys has become a leader in the field of therapeutic antibodies, one of the fastest-growing drug classes in human health-care. Through its alliances with some of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, MorphoSys has created a pipeline of more than 60 drug candidates. The Company is expanding its drug pipeline by adding new partnered programs, and by building a portfolio of fully-owned therapeutic antibodies. For its proprietary portfolio, the Company is focused on the areas of oncology and inflammation. Its most advanced program MOR103, a first-in-class, fully human antibody against GM-CSF, is currently tested in a Phase Ib/IIa trial in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Via its business unit AbD Serotec, MorphoSys is expanding the reach of its technologies in the diagnostics and research markets. MorphoSys is headquartered in Munich, Germany and listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "MOR". For further information, visit http://www.morphosys.com/   HuCAL®, HuCAL GOLD®, HuCAL PLATINUM® and RapMAT® are registered trademarks of MorphoSys AG   About Galapagos  Galapagos (Euronext: GLPG; OTC: GLPYY) is a mid-size biotechnology company specialized in the discovery and development of small molecule and antibody therapies with novel modes-of-action.  The Company is progressing one of the largest pipelines in biotech, with four clinical and over 40 discovery/pre-clinical programs.  Through risk/reward-sharing alliances with GlaxoSmithKline, Eli Lilly, Janssen Pharmaceutica, Merck &amp; Co. and Roche, Galapagos is eligible to receive up to 3 billion ($4.5 billion) in downstream milestones, plus royalties.  Together with the service operations of BioFocus and Argenta, Galapagos has more than 640 employees and operates facilities in six countries, with global headquarters in Mechelen, Belgium.   For further information, visit www.glpg.com   This communication contains certain forward-looking statements concerning the MorphoSys group of companies. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgment of MorphoSys as of the date of this release and involve risks and uncertainties. Should actual conditions differ from the Company's assumptions, actual results and actions may differ from those anticipated. MorphoSys does not intend to update any of these forward-looking statements as far as the wording of the relevant press release is concerned.   For more information, please contact: MorphoSys AG  Dr. Claudia Gutjahr-Löser  Head of Corporate Communications &amp; IR Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-122   Mario Brkulj  Senior Manager Corporate Communications &amp; IR Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-454   Jessica Kulpi Specialist Corporate Communications &amp; IR Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-332   investors@morphosys.com   Galapagos NV Elizabeth Goodwin Director Investor Relations Tel: +31 6 2291 6240 ir@glpg.com]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[AbD Serotec Expands Sales Office in Düsseldorf to Support Future Growth]]></title>
<link>http://www.morphosys.com/en/news_investors/press-release-707.html</link>
<guid>http://www.morphosys.com/en/news_investors/press-release-707.html</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 09 Feb 2010 07:30:00 +0100</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[AbD Serotec to Increase Sales Activities in Europe and Asia   MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX) announced today that its research and diagnostic antibodies unit AbD Serotec will expand its sales organization in Düsseldorf to support growth in continental and eastern Europe as well as in Asia. Today's official opening ceremony was performed by Friedrich G. Conzen, major of Düsseldorf. Dr. Simon Moroney, Chief Executive Officer of MorphoSys Group, also attended along with Dieter Feger, Head of AbD Serotec. The expanded Düsseldorf office will coordinate global sales activities of AbD Serotec outside North, Central and South America. "While we expect demand in our traditional markets to remain solid, we have identified new areas of growth potential, and are now planning to expand our sales outreach to increase our market share in eastern Europe and Asia, as well as in our core market here in western Europe." commented Dieter Feger, Head of AbD Serotec. "Our plans to add a telemarketing sales force and expand our direct marketing efforts will act as central components of our growth strategy in these markets." According to MorphoSys's financial guidance, AbD Serotec is expected to contribute roughly one quarter of total group revenues in 2009, driven by above-market growth rates, with an operating profit margin of up to 6%. MorphoSys expects the segment's financial performance to improve further in 2010. More specific financial guidance for 2010 will be given at the Company's full year 2009 results presentation on February 25th, 2010.     About MorphoSys: MorphoSys is an independent biotechnology company that develops novel antibodies for therapeutic, diagnostic and research applications. The Company's HuCAL technology is one of the most powerful methods available for generating fully human antibodies. By successfully applying this and other proprietary technologies, MorphoSys has become a leader in the field of therapeutic antibodies, one of the fastest-growing drug classes in human health-care. Through its alliances with some of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, MorphoSys has created a pipeline of more than 60 drug candidates. The Company is expanding its drug pipeline by adding new partnered programs, and by building a portfolio of fully-owned therapeutic antibodies. For its proprietary portfolio, the Company is focused on the areas of oncology and inflammation. Its most advanced program MOR103, a first-in-class, fully human antibody against GM-CSF, is currently tested in a Phase Ib/IIa trial in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Via its business unit AbD Serotec, MorphoSys is expanding the reach of its technologies in the diagnostics and research markets. MorphoSys is headquartered in Munich, Germany and listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "MOR". For further information, visit http://www.morphosys.com/   HuCAL®, HuCAL GOLD®, HuCAL PLATINUM® and RapMAT® are registered trademarks of MorphoSys AG   This communication contains certain forward-looking statements concerning the MorphoSys group of companies. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgment of MorphoSys as of the date of this release and involve risks and uncertainties. Should actual conditions differ from the Company's assumptions, actual results and actions may differ from those anticipated. MorphoSys does not intend to update any of these forward-looking statements as far as the wording of the relevant press release is concerned.   For more information, please contact: MorphoSys AG  Dr. Claudia Gutjahr-Löser  Head of Corporate Communications &amp; IR Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-122   Mario Brkulj  Senior Manager Corporate Communications &amp; IR Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-454   Jessica Kulpi Specialist Corporate Communications &amp; IR Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-332   investors@morphosys.com]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[MorphoSys Licenses HuCAL PLATINUM® Antibody Library to Shionogi in Research Partnership]]></title>
<link>http://www.morphosys.com/en/news_investors/press-release-706.html</link>
<guid>http://www.morphosys.com/en/news_investors/press-release-706.html</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 27 Jan 2010 07:30:00 +0100</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[   MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX) announced today that Shionogi &amp; Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan, has elected to expand its current research license to cover the use of MorphoSys's HuCAL PLATINUM technology in drug discovery. In April 2009, MorphoSys and Shionogi entered into an agreement under which, for pre-agreed terms, Shionogi could gain access to HuCAL PLATINUM, the latest and most powerful MorphoSys antibody library, for a six-month beta test period. During this test period, Shionogi was able to compare HuCAL PLATINUM with its predecessor HuCAL GOLD®, and found the new library to be considerably better.  "We have had the pleasure of using the MorphoSys HuCAL PLATINUM library for the last six months and were extremely impressed. HuCAL PLATINUM's capabilities go beyond any other antibody sourcing library we have used in the past, and we are very excited about being able to continue to use the PLATINUM library in the future," commented Dr. Yoshito Numata, Department Head, Drug Target Discovery, Discovery Research Laboratory. "Shionogi has been able to test-drive the latest version of our antibody library HuCAL PLATINUM extensively. Thus, their decision to upgrade speaks clearly to the quality and the success of our internal technology development work in recent years," commented Dr. Marlies Sproll, Chief Scientific Officer of MorphoSys. Under the terms of the agreement, Shionogi will now have the right to use HuCAL PLATINUM for research purposes at one of its sites. As a result of the expansion, MorphoSys will receive increased annual user fees from Shionogi. Further financial details were not disclosed. MorphoSys and Shionogi signed a three-year license agreement on the use of MorphoSys's HuCAL technology in September 2005. Under the terms of the agreement, MorphoSys granted Shionogi access to its HuCAL GOLD antibody library for research applications in Shionogi's drug discovery programs. The research alliance was extended for three additional years in September 2008. The HuCAL PLATINUM library was introduced in September 2008. PLATINUM contains several significant improvements over the previous version of the HuCAL library. The new library is based on the genetic information of approximately 45 billion different fully human antibodies.  About MorphoSys: MorphoSys is an independent biotechnology company that develops novel antibodies for therapeutic, diagnostic and research applications. The Company's HuCAL technology is one of the most powerful methods available for generating fully human antibodies. By successfully applying this and other proprietary technologies, MorphoSys has become a leader in the field of therapeutic antibodies, one of the fastest-growing drug classes in human health-care. Through its alliances with some of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, MorphoSys has created a pipeline of more than 60 drug candidates. The Company is expanding its drug pipeline by adding new partnered programs, and by building a portfolio of fully-owned therapeutic antibodies. For its proprietary portfolio, the Company is focused on the areas of oncology and inflammation. Its most advanced program MOR103, a first-in-class, fully human antibody against GM-CSF, is currently tested in a Phase Ib/IIa trial in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Via its business unit AbD Serotec, MorphoSys is expanding the reach of its technologies in the diagnostics and research markets. MorphoSys is headquartered in Munich, Germany and listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "MOR". For further information, visit http://www.morphosys.com/   HuCAL®, HuCAL GOLD®, HuCAL PLATINUM®, CysDisplay® and RapMAT® are registered trademarks of MorphoSys AG.   This communication contains certain forward-looking statements concerning the MorphoSys group of companies. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgment of MorphoSys as of the date of this release and involve risks and uncertainties. Should actual conditions differ from the Company's assumptions, actual results and actions may differ from those anticipated. MorphoSys does not intend to update any of these forward-looking statements as far as the wording of the relevant press release is concerned.     For more information, please contact MorphoSys: Dr. Claudia Gutjahr-Löser  Head of Corporate Communications &amp; IR Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-122  Mario Brkulj  Senior Manager Corporate Communications &amp; IR Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-454  Jessica Kulpi Specialist Corporate Communications &amp; IR Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-332  investors@morphosys.com]]></description>
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<title><![CDATA[MorphoSys and WACKER Expand Cooperation to Use WACKER's ESETEC® Technology for Production of Antigen Material]]></title>
<link>http://www.morphosys.com/en/news_investors/press-release-704.html</link>
<guid>http://www.morphosys.com/en/news_investors/press-release-704.html</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 20 Jan 2010 07:30:00 +0100</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX) and Wacker Chemie AG announced today an expansion of their existing cooperation in the use of WACKER's bacterial secretion technology ESETEC®.  As a result, MorphoSys will now be able to use the WACKER technology for the production of antigen material in addition to the production of antibodies in both the early development phase of therapeutic projects as well as in the production of diagnostic and research antibodies. The technology complements MorphoSys's existing production platforms. It could offer significant advantages with regard to the production of novel antigens, which have proven difficult to produce with conventional expression systems."The use of WACKER's secretion technology for antigen production allows us to approach development programs where the production of the disease-relevant target molecule represents a major challenge. This could offer us and our partners a head-start in therapeutic projects against novel drug targets including bacterial antigens in current and future infectious disease programs", explained Dr. Marlies Sproll, Chief Scientific Officer at MorphoSys AG.  In October 2009, MorphoSys signed a first alliance focused on the discovery and development of therapeutic antibodies for hospital-acquired infections with Daiichi Sankyo."The extension of our existing collaboration with MorphoSys underpins the success of our protein production technology ESETEC®" said Dr. Thomas Maier, Managing Director at Wacker Biotech GmbH, Wacker Chemie AG's subsidiary for custom manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals. "Since we introduced this innovation to the biopharmaceutical market we see that more and more companies revisit E. coli as production host to benefit from shorter development timelines", he added.The patented ESETEC® secretion system from WACKER, which is based on E. coli, is a tried-and-tested technology for the cost-effective production of proteins including antibody fragments.  The system comprises a specific E. coli strain developed and patented by WACKER which is able to secrete recombinant proteins in their native conformation into the culture medium during fermentation.  This extra-cellular production makes it easier to purify the recombinant products, and the expensive process step of refolding is also dispensed with.  This means the entire production is much more efficient and cost-effective. WACKER and MorphoSys entered into an initial feasibility study agreement for the use of the WACKER secretion technology for the production of antibodies in 2005.  Due to significant success, this agreement was supplemented in 2008 with a formal license to use the WACKER technology.About MorphoSys:MorphoSys is an independent biotechnology company that develops novel antibodies for therapeutic, diagnostic and research applications. The Company's HuCAL technology is one of the most powerful methods available for generating fully human antibodies. By successfully applying this and other proprietary technologies, MorphoSys has become a leader in the field of therapeutic antibodies, one of the fastest-growing drug classes in human health-care. Through its alliances with some of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, MorphoSys has created a pipeline of more than 60 drug candidates. The Company is expanding its drug pipeline by adding new partnered programs, and by building a portfolio of fully-owned therapeutic antibodies. For its proprietary portfolio, the Company is focused on the areas of oncology and inflammation. Its most advanced program MOR103, a first-in-class, fully human antibody against GM-CSF, is currently tested in a Phase Ib/IIa trial in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Via its business unit AbD Serotec, MorphoSys is expanding the reach of its technologies in the diagnostics and research markets. MorphoSys is headquartered in Munich, Germany and listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "MOR". For further information, visit http://www.morphosys.com/HuCAL®, HuCAL GOLD®, HuCAL PLATINUM® and RapMAT® are registered trademarks of MorphoSys AGAbout Wacker BiotechWacker Biotech GmbH is a full-service contract manufacturer of biopharmaceuticals derived from microbial systems. Its portfolio ranges from services in molecular biology, analytical and process development, through the GMP-compliant production of clinical test material, to active pharmaceutical ingredient for commercial market supply. Above all, Wacker Biotech offers proprietary technologies that satisfy market needs for cost-efficient and high-quality production. Two examples are its E. coli-based secretion technology and its high-cell-density fermentation technology DENSETEC®. Wacker Biotech, Jena, is a wholly-owned WACKER subsidiary. Further information on Wacker Biotech GmbH is available at www.wacker.com/biologics  ESETEC® and DENSETEC® are registered trademarks of Wacker Chemie AG  This communication contains certain forward-looking statements concerning the MorphoSys group of companies. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgment of MorphoSys as of the date of this release and involve risks and uncertainties. Should actual conditions differ from the Company's assumptions, actual results and actions may differ from those anticipated. MorphoSys does not intend to update any of these forward-looking statements as far as the wording of the relevant press release is concerned. For more information, please contact:MorphoSys AG Dr. Claudia Gutjahr-Löser Head of Corporate Communications &amp; IRTel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-122Mario Brkulj Senior Manager Corporate Communications &amp; IRTel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-454Jessica KulpiSpecialist Corporate Communications &amp; IRTel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-332investors@morphosys.comWACKERNadine BaumgartlMedia Relations and InformationPhone: +49 (0) 89 6279 1604Nadine.baumgartl@wacker.comhttp://hugin.info/130295/R/1374870/337113.pdf]]></description>
</item>
<item >
<title><![CDATA[MorphoSys Enrolls First Patient in Phase 1b/2a Clinical Trial for MOR103 Program in Rheumatoid Arthritis]]></title>
<link>http://www.morphosys.com/en/news_investors/press-release-702.html</link>
<guid>http://www.morphosys.com/en/news_investors/press-release-702.html</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 19 Jan 2010 07:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[


 Company Provides Guidance on R&amp;D Investment in 2010
MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX) announced today that it has enrolled the first patient in its Phase 1b/2a clinical trial of its lead drug MOR103. The Company's lead development program, MOR103, is a fully human HuCAL antibody directed against GM-CSF (granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor), being developed in the area of inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), where current treatment options are inadequate. "We are very pleased that our Phase 1b/2a study in patients with rheumatoid arthritis has now started according to plan," commented Dr. Arndt Schottelius, Chief Development Officer. "This is an important step for MorphoSys, since we will test an antibody from our growing proprietary pipeline for the first time in patients. We have thus made significant progress in bringing a potential future drug with a promising new mechanism of action closer to patients. The past year saw a major expansion of MorphoSys's development team and capabilities. Today's news also demonstrates that we have made major progress in building an excellent development organization capable of producing and advancing valuable drug candidates."In total, the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation trial is expected to enroll 135 patients and will be conducted in multiple centers in several European countries. Patients with active RA despite previous therapy with NSAIDs, corticosteroids, DMARDs and/or anti-TNF-alpha therapies will each receive four infusions of either the HuCAL-derived antibody MOR103 or placebo in three ascending dose cohorts. Enrollment is expected to be completed in the first half of 2011 with the final results expected in H1 2012.The primary endpoint of the trial is to determine the safety and tolerability of multiple doses of up to 1.5 mg/kg of MOR103 in patients with active RA. Secondary outcome measures will evaluate pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, and the drug's potential to improve clinical signs and symptoms of RA as measured by reduction of synovitis and bone edema as well as by ACR/ EULAR28 response criteria and patient reported outcomes. 
Proprietary R&amp;D Investment 2010
The phase 1b/2a trial for MOR103 is expected to constitute a significant share of MorphoSys's anticipated proprietary R&amp;D investment in 2010 of EUR 26 million to EUR 29 million. In addition to conducting the phase 1b/2a trial in RA and preparing for phase 2 testing of MOR103 in a second indication, MorphoSys will further accelerate and expand its proprietary development activities during the next 12 months. The Company plans to add up to four new proprietary programs including both fully owned and co-development opportunities. MorphoSys today reconfirmed its commitment to remaining profitable and expects the solid business performance and top-line growth of previous years to continue through 2010. More specific financial guidance for 2010 will be given at the Company's full year 2009 results presentation on February 25th, 2010.About MorphoSys:MorphoSys is an independent biotechnology company that develops novel antibodies for therapeutic, diagnostic and research applications. The Company's HuCAL technology is one of the most powerful methods available for generating fully human antibodies. By successfully applying this and other proprietary technologies, MorphoSys has become a leader in the field of therapeutic antibodies, one of the fastest-growing drug classes in human health-care. Through its alliances with some of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, MorphoSys has created a pipeline of more than 60 drug candidates. The Company is expanding its drug pipeline by adding new partnered programs, and by building a portfolio of fully-owned therapeutic antibodies. For its proprietary portfolio, the Company is focused on the areas of oncology and inflammation. Its most advanced program MOR103, a first-in-class, fully human antibody against GM-CSF, is currently tested in a Phase Ib/IIa trial in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Via its business unit AbD Serotec, MorphoSys is expanding the reach of its technologies in the diagnostics and research markets. MorphoSys is headquartered in Munich, Germany and listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "MOR". For further information, visit http://www.morphosys.com/ 
 
About MOR103 to treat RA:
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is traditionally considered a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack the joints and affects in particular a membrane, called synovium, which lines each movable joint. It is a disabling and painful inflammatory condition, which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. As a systemic disease, RA often affects extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and muscles. The disease affects approximately 4-6 million people worldwide. In patients suffering from RA, white blood cells move from the bloodstream into the synovium. Here, these blood cells appear to play an important role in causing the synovial membrane to become inflamed. The HuCAL-based antibody MOR103 targets GM-CSF thereby having the potential to treat inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis, multiple sclerosis (MS), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and especially RA. The granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) stimulates stem cells to produce granulocytes and macrophages and subsequently activates these differentiated immune cells. GM-CSF is part of the natural immune and inflammatory cascade but has also been identified as an inflammatory mediator in autoimmune disorders like RA leading to an increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and proteases and thereby ultimately to articular destruction. By neutralizing GM-CSF the HuCAL-based antibody MOR103 reduced in pre-clinical models undesired proliferation and activation of inflammatory granulocytes and macrophages and intervenes in several pathophysiological pathways. More information and picture material is available at: http://www.morphosys.com/en/mor103
 
 
HuCAL®, HuCAL GOLD®, HuCAL PLATINUM®, CysDisplay® and RapMAT® are registered trademarks of MorphoSys AG. 
This communication contains certain forward-looking statements concerning the MorphoSys group of companies. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgment of MorphoSys as of the date of this release and involve risks and uncertainties. Should actual conditions differ from the Company's assumptions, actual results and actions may differ from those anticipated. MorphoSys does not intend to update any of these forward-looking statements as far as the wording of the relevant press release is concerned.
  
 
 
For more information, please contact MorphoSys:
Dr. Claudia Gutjahr-Löser 
Head of Corporate Communications &amp; IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-122
 
Mario Brkulj 
Senior Manager Corporate Communications &amp; IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-454
 
Jessica Kulpi
Specialist Corporate Communications &amp; IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-332
 
investors@morphosys.com

  ]]></description>
</item>
<item >
<title><![CDATA[Dr. Simon Moroney Awarded Bavarian State Medal for Outstanding Services to the Bavarian Economy]]></title>
<link>http://www.morphosys.com/en/news_investors/press-release-699.html</link>
<guid>http://www.morphosys.com/en/news_investors/press-release-699.html</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:10:08 +0100</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX) announced today that its co-founder and CEO Dr. Simon Moroney was awarded the Bavarian State Medal for Outstanding Services to the Bavarian Economy. The award ceremony took place at the Bavarian State Ministry of Economy, Infrastructure, Transport and Technology in Munich, Germany, on November 23, 2009.
&nbsp;
"I am pleased to award Dr. Moroney the Bavarian State Medal for Outstanding Services for his contribution to the Bavarian biotechnology sector and the Bavarian economy in general", commented Martin Zeil, Bavarian State Ministry of Economy, Infrastructure, Transport and Technology. "MorphoSys is a success story in the German biotech landscape and acts as a key factor for Munich's endeavors to become a leading biotechnology region. Thanks to the sustainable business model Dr. Moroney is pursuing with MorphoSys, the company was able to provide new jobs even in these challenging markets."
&nbsp;
Since being founded in 1992, MorphoSys has been one of the most closely followed German biotechnology companies. From its start as a core team of young researchers, it has grown into a globally operating organization with some 400 employees. Within the biotechnology sector, MorphoSys is viewed as a technology leader and the partner of choice for antibody development.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
About MorphoSys:
MorphoSys is an independent biotechnology company that develops novel antibodies for therapeutic, diagnostic and research applications. The Company's HuCAL technology is one of the most powerful methods available for generating fully human antibodies. By successfully applying this and other proprietary technologies, MorphoSys has become a leader in the field of therapeutic antibodies, one of the fastest-growing drug classes in human health-care. Through its alliances with some of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, MorphoSys has created a pipeline of more than 60 drug candidates. The Company is expanding its drug pipeline by adding new partnered programs, and by building a portfolio of fully-owned therapeutic antibodies. For its proprietary portfolio, the Company is focused on the areas of oncology and inflammation, within which it plans to have eight active programs by the end of 2009. Its most advanced program is MOR103, a first-in-class, fully human antibody against GM-CSF. MorphoSys expects to commence a Phase Ib/IIa trial of this antibody in rheumatoid arthritis patients in the second half of 2009. Via its business unit AbD Serotec, MorphoSys is expanding the reach of its technologies in the diagnostics and research markets. MorphoSys is headquartered in Munich, Germany and listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "MOR". For further information, visit http://www.morphosys.com/
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
HuCAL®, HuCAL GOLD®, HuCAL PLATINUM® and RapMAT® are registered trademarks of MorphoSys AG
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
This communication contains certain forward-looking statements concerning the MorphoSys group of companies. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgment of MorphoSys as of the date of this release and involve risks and uncertainties. Should actual conditions differ from the Company's assumptions, actual results and actions may differ from those anticipated. MorphoSys does not intend to update any of these forward-looking statements as far as the wording of the relevant press release is concerned.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
For more information, please contact:
MorphoSys AG 
Dr. Claudia Gutjahr-Löser
Head of Corporate Communications &amp; IR
Phone: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-122
claudia.gutjahr-loeser@morphosys.com
&nbsp;
Mario Brkulj
Senior Manager Corporate Communications &amp; IR
Phone: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-454
mario.brkulj@morphosys.com
&nbsp;
Jessica Kulpi
Specialist Corporate Communications &amp; IR
Phone: +49 (0) 89 899 27 332
jessica.kulpi@morphosys.com]]></description>
</item>
<item >
<title><![CDATA[MorphoSys Receives Regulatory Approval to Start Phase 1b/2a Clinical Trial for MOR103 Program]]></title>
<link>http://www.morphosys.com/en/news_investors/press-release-698.html</link>
<guid>http://www.morphosys.com/en/news_investors/press-release-698.html</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:30:00 +0100</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Germany's Paul-Ehrlich-Institute Approves Clinical Trial in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
&nbsp;
MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX) announced today that it has received clearance from Germany's Paul-Ehrlich-Institute as well as a positive opinion from the ethics committees in Germany to commence a Phase 1b/2a human clinical trial in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) of its lead drug MOR103, a fully human monoclonal antibody directed against Granulocyte Macrophage-Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF). In total, the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation trial is expected to enroll 135 patients and will be conducted in multiple centers in several European countries. Patients with active RA despite previous therapy with NSAIDs, corticosteroids, DMARDs and/or anti-TNF-alpha will each receive four infusions of either the HuCAL-derived antibody MOR103 or placebo in three ascending dose cohorts. Enrollment is expected to be completed in the first half of 2011. The final results of the trial are expected in H1 2012.
&nbsp;
The primary endpoint of the trial is to determine the safety and tolerability of multiple doses of up to 1.5 mg/kg of MOR103 in patients with active RA. Secondary outcome measures will evaluate pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, and the drug's potential to improve clinical signs and symptoms of RA as measured by ACR and EULAR28 response criteria and patient reported outcomes.
&nbsp;
"We are pleased to have achieved clearance by the regulatory authorities and ethics committees in Germany in such a short time frame which speaks for the high quality of the application documents provided by MorphoSys," commented Dr. Arndt Schottelius, Chief Development Officer.&nbsp; "We'll continue to work towards finalization of the entire approval process in all European countries where we have filed."
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
About MorphoSys:
MorphoSys is an independent biotechnology company that develops novel antibodies for therapeutic, diagnostic and research applications. The Company's HuCAL technology is one of the most powerful methods available for generating fully human antibodies. By successfully applying this and other proprietary technologies, MorphoSys has become a leader in the field of therapeutic antibodies, one of the fastest-growing drug classes in human health-care. Through its alliances with some of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, MorphoSys has created a pipeline of more than 60 drug candidates. The Company is expanding its drug pipeline by adding new partnered programs, and by building a portfolio of fully-owned therapeutic antibodies. For its proprietary portfolio, the Company is focused on the areas of oncology and inflammation, within which it plans to have eight active programs by the end of 2009. Its most advanced program is MOR103, a first-in-class, fully human antibody against GM-CSF. MorphoSys expects to commence a Phase Ib/IIa trial of this antibody in rheumatoid arthritis patients in the second half of 2009. Via its business unit AbD Serotec, MorphoSys is expanding the reach of its technologies in the diagnostics and research markets. MorphoSys is headquartered in Munich, Germany and listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "MOR". For further information, visit http://www.morphosys.com/
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
HuCAL®, HuCAL GOLD®, HuCAL PLATINUM®, CysDisplay® and RapMAT® are registered trademarks of MorphoSys AG.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
This communication contains certain forward-looking statements concerning the MorphoSys group of companies. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgment of MorphoSys as of the date of this release and involve risks and uncertainties. Should actual conditions differ from the Company's assumptions, actual results and actions may differ from those anticipated. MorphoSys does not intend to update any of these forward-looking statements as far as the wording of the relevant press release is concerned.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
For more information, please contact MorphoSys:
Dr. Claudia Gutjahr-Löser 
Head of Corporate Communications &amp; IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-122
&nbsp;
Mario Brkulj 
Senior Manager Corporate Communications &amp; IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-454
&nbsp;
Jessica Kulpi
Specialist Corporate Communications &amp; IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-332
&nbsp;
investors@morphosys.com]]></description>
</item>
<item >
<title><![CDATA[MorphoSys to Present at Two Upcoming Investor Conferences]]></title>
<link>http://www.morphosys.com/en/news_investors/press-release-695.html</link>
<guid>http://www.morphosys.com/en/news_investors/press-release-695.html</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX) announced today that its management will give company presentations at two upcoming investor conferences.
&nbsp;
Deutsche Börse Group - German Equity Forum
Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Time: 03:00 pm CET (02:00 pm GMT, 09:00 am ET)
Venue: Frankfurt/Main, Germany
Presenter: Dave Lemus, CFO of MorphoSys AG
&nbsp;
WestLB Germany Conference
Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Time: 12:30 pm CET (11:30 am GMT, 06:30 am ET)
Venue: Frankfurt/Main, Germany 
Presenter: Dr. Simon Moroney, CEO of MorphoSys AG
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The PDF versions and, if available, live and archived webcasts of the presentations will be provided at www.morphosys.com.
&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
About MorphoSys:
MorphoSys is an independent biotechnology company that develops novel antibodies for therapeutic, diagnostic and research applications. The Company's HuCAL technology is one of the most powerful methods available for generating fully human antibodies. By successfully applying this and other proprietary technologies, MorphoSys has become a leader in the field of therapeutic antibodies, one of the fastest-growing drug classes in human health-care. Through its alliances with some of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, MorphoSys has created a pipeline of more than 60 drug candidates. The Company is expanding its drug pipeline by adding new partnered programs, and by building a portfolio of fully-owned therapeutic antibodies. For its proprietary portfolio, the Company is focused on the areas of oncology and inflammation, within which it plans to have eight active programs by the end of 2009. Its most advanced program is MOR103, a first-in-class, fully human antibody against GM-CSF. MorphoSys expects to commence a Phase Ib/IIa trial of this antibody in rheumatoid arthritis patients in the second half of 2009. Via its business unit AbD Serotec, MorphoSys is expanding the reach of its technologies in the diagnostics and research markets. MorphoSys is headquartered in Munich, Germany and listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "MOR". For further information, visit http://www.morphosys.com/
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
HuCAL®, HuCAL GOLD®, HuCAL PLATINUM® and RapMAT® are registered trademarks of MorphoSys AG
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
This communication contains certain forward-looking statements concerning the MorphoSys group of companies. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgment of MorphoSys as of the date of this release and involve risks and uncertainties. Should actual conditions differ from the Company's assumptions, actual results and actions may differ from those anticipated. MorphoSys does not intend to update any of these forward-looking statements as far as the wording of the relevant press release is concerned.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
For more information, please contact MorphoSys:
Dr. Claudia Gutjahr-Löser
Head of Corporate Communications &amp; IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-122
gutjahr-loeser@morphosys.com
&nbsp;
Mario Brkulj
Senior Manager Corporate Communications &amp; IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-454
brkulj@morphosys.com
&nbsp;
Jessica Kulpi
Specialist Corporate Communications &amp; IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-454
kulpi@morphosys.com
&nbsp;]]></description>
</item>
<item >
<title><![CDATA[MorphoSys AG Reports Results for the First Nine Months of 2009]]></title>
<link>http://www.morphosys.com/en/news_investors/press-release-693.html</link>
<guid>http://www.morphosys.com/en/news_investors/press-release-693.html</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Full Year Guidance Confirmed
&nbsp;
MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment; TecDAX) today announced its financial results for the nine months ending September 30, 2009 according to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). &nbsp;Group revenues increased by 8&nbsp;% to EUR&nbsp;57.6 million (first nine months 2008: EUR&nbsp;53.3 million) and operating profit was EUR&nbsp;9.3 million (first nine months 2008: EUR&nbsp;15.1 million).&nbsp; Net profit amounted to EUR&nbsp;7.7 million (first nine months 2008: EUR&nbsp;11.8 million). &nbsp;The main reason for the change in profits was, as planned, increased investment in proprietary drug development, amounting to EUR&nbsp;11.9 million (first nine months 2008: EUR&nbsp;3.6 million). &nbsp;MorphoSys's cash position on September 30, 2009 was EUR&nbsp;139.8 million (December 31, 2008: EUR&nbsp;137.9 million). &nbsp;The results are broadly in line with the Company's full year guidance.
&nbsp;
Highlights of the Third Quarter of 2009

Regarding the Company's partnered discovery activities, Bayer Schering Pharma advanced an antibody program into clinical development, triggering a milestone payment to MorphoSys. &nbsp;Bayer Schering Pharma was the third partner in 2009 to file a clinical trial application for a HuCAL-based program, bringing the total number of partnered antibody programs in clinical trials to seven.

The value of MorphoSys's largest alliance with Novartis was further enhanced by Novartis's commitment to the full ten-year term of the strategic alliance signed in December 2007. &nbsp;The achievement of certain predefined improvements in MorphoSys's proprietary technologies was the catalyst for this event.

MorphoSys submitted an application for the authorization of a phase 1b/2a clinical study in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for its lead drug MOR103, a fully human HuCAL-derived monoclonal antibody directed against Granulocyte Macrophage-Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF).&nbsp; The Company expects to start the study as planned in the last quarter of 2009.

The appointment of Lisa Rojkjaer as Vice President and Head of Clinical Development further strengthened the Company's development team. 

MorphoSys's drug pipeline now comprises 68 therapeutic antibody programs in total, of which eight are currently in clinical development, 28 are in preclinical development and 32 are in the discovery phase. &nbsp;Six of these are MorphoSys's proprietary programs, with MOR103 being the most advanced.

AbD Serotec, MorphoSys's research and diagnostics segment continued to expand into the diagnostics market and signed two new agreements. &nbsp;Spinreact S.A. will incorporate antibodies from AbD Serotec in a series of clinical diagnostic kits. Separately, AbD Serotec will collaborate with FIND diagnostics, Switzerland, to develop new diagnostic tools for poverty related diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis.
&nbsp;
"Todays results demonstrate MorphoSys remains in top form despite the challenging economic climate in the first nine months of this year," commented Dave Lemus, Chief Financial Officer of MorphoSys AG. &nbsp;"Based on stable and secured cash flows resulting from our partnered discovery business and that of AbD Serotec, we continue to further expand our proprietary product development activities, thereby generating long term value for the Company." 
&nbsp;
Financial Review for Nine Months of 2009 (IFRS)
Group revenues for the first nine months of 2009 amounted to EUR&nbsp;57.6 million (first nine months 2008: EUR&nbsp;53.3 million), an increase of 8&nbsp;% over the prior year. &nbsp;Segment revenues arising from the Partnered Discovery segment accounted for 75&nbsp;% or EUR&nbsp;42.9 million of the total (first nine months 2008: EUR&nbsp;40.6 million) and included success-based payments in the amount of EUR&nbsp;7.8 million, while the Proprietary Development segment, comprising the Company's own and joint drug development activities contributed EUR&nbsp;0.8 million to total revenues.&nbsp; These revenues arise from Novartis's funding of a joint pre-development program.&nbsp; The Research and Diagnostics segment AbD Serotec generated 25&nbsp;% or EUR&nbsp;14.6 million of total revenues (first nine months 2008: EUR 13.4 million).&nbsp; Measured at constant foreign exchange rates, segment revenues in the Partnered Discovery and Proprietary Development segments would have amounted to EUR&nbsp;43.4 million and revenues in the AbD Serotec segment would have amounted to EUR&nbsp;14.7 million. &nbsp;MorphoSys's overall revenue growth was driven primarily by higher levels of funded research, licensing fees and success-based revenues in the Partnered Discovery and Proprietary Development segments as well as increased sales across the AbD Serotec segment.
&nbsp;
Total operating expenses for the first nine months of 2009 amounted to EUR&nbsp;48.3 million (first nine months 2008: EUR&nbsp;38.2 million), representing an increase of 26&nbsp;% over the prior year, which was mainly driven by a higher level of investment in proprietary drug development, as planned.&nbsp; Cost of goods sold (COGS) decreased to EUR 5.1 million (first nine months 2008: EUR&nbsp;5.2 million).&nbsp; Research and development expenses increased by 50&nbsp;% to EUR&nbsp;27.5 million (first nine months 2008: EUR&nbsp;18.3 million). &nbsp;These R&amp;D expenses comprised costs for proprietary product and technology development in the amount of EUR&nbsp;12.3&nbsp;million (first nine months 2008: EUR&nbsp;4.0&nbsp;million) as well as costs incurred on behalf of partners.&nbsp; Sales, general and administrative expenses increased by 8&nbsp;% to EUR&nbsp;15.7&nbsp;million (first nine months 2008: EUR&nbsp;14.6 million). &nbsp;Non-cash charges related to stock-based compensation are embedded in COGS, S,&nbsp;G&amp;A and R&amp;D expenses and amounted to EUR&nbsp;1.3 million (first nine months 2008: EUR&nbsp;0.8 million).&nbsp; Total operating profit amounted to EUR 9.3 million (first nine months 2008: EUR 15.1 million).
&nbsp;
The segment result for the Partnered Discovery segment amounted to EUR&nbsp;27.3 million (first nine months 2008: EUR&nbsp;26.0&nbsp;million), while the Proprietary Development segment showed a segment loss of EUR&nbsp;12.4 million (first nine months 2008: segment loss of EUR&nbsp;4.8 million). &nbsp;In the AbD segment, operating profit significantly increased to &nbsp;1.4&nbsp;million (first nine months 2008: &nbsp;0.3&nbsp;million) and would have amounted to &nbsp;0.8&nbsp;million under the assumption of constant foreign exchange rates at the average rate of 2008. &nbsp;Unallocated corporate costs in the first nine months of 2009 amounted to EUR&nbsp;7.0 million (first nine months 2008: EUR&nbsp;6.4 million).
&nbsp;
For the first nine months of 2009, non-operating income amounted to EUR&nbsp;1.4 million (first nine months 2008: EUR&nbsp;1.3&nbsp;million).&nbsp; Profit before taxes amounted to EUR&nbsp;10.8&nbsp;million (first nine months 2008: EUR&nbsp;16.4&nbsp;million).
&nbsp;
For the first nine months of 2009, the Company reported income tax expenses in the amount of EUR&nbsp;3.1&nbsp;million (first nine months 2008: EUR 4.7 million).
&nbsp;
Net profit for the first nine months of 2009 amounted to EUR&nbsp;7.7 million compared to a net profit of EUR&nbsp;11.8 million in the same period of the previous year. &nbsp;The resulting diluted earnings per share for the first nine months of 2009 amounted to EUR&nbsp;0.34 (first nine months 2008: Diluted earnings per share of EUR&nbsp;0.53).
&nbsp;
On September 30, 2009, the Company had EUR&nbsp;139.8 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities, compared to EUR&nbsp;137.9 million as of December 31, 2008.&nbsp; Cash inflow from operations in the first nine months of 2009 amounted to EUR&nbsp;3.0&nbsp;million (first nine months 2008: EUR&nbsp;18.7&nbsp;million). &nbsp;The number of issued shares at September 30, 2009 was 22,604,457, compared to 22,478,787 shares at December 31, 2008.
&nbsp;
Financial Review for the Third Quarter of 2009 (IFRS)
In the third quarter of 2009, revenues decreased slightly to EUR&nbsp;19.7 million, compared to EUR&nbsp;20.0 million in the same quarter of 2008. &nbsp;Total operating expenses amounted to EUR&nbsp;17.0 million, compared to EUR&nbsp;12.9 million in the same period of 2008.&nbsp; The resulting profit from operations for the third quarter of 2009 amounted to EUR&nbsp;2.7 million, compared to EUR&nbsp;7.1 million in the same period of 2008.&nbsp; A net profit of EUR&nbsp;2.6 million resulted for the third quarter of 2009, compared to EUR 5.5 million during the same period of 2008.
&nbsp;
Financial Outlook for 2009
MorphoSys re-confirmed its financial guidance for 2009 as previously communicated in February 2009.&nbsp; The Company anticipates total group revenues between EUR 80 million and EUR 85 million, and an operating profit of EUR 8 million to EUR 11 million.&nbsp; In line with its plans to expand the Company's proprietary pipeline, MorphoSys anticipates making investments in technology and product development of between EUR 18 million and EUR 20 million, compared to EUR 7.7 million in the previous year.&nbsp; Regarding the AbD segment, the Company continues to expect revenues of approximately &nbsp;20 million but has today increased the operating margin guidance (previously at least 2%) to up to 6%, depending on operational developments and currency exchange rates.
&nbsp;
MorphoSys will hold a public conference call today at 02:00 p.m. CET to present the Nine Months Results 2009 and report on current developments.
&nbsp;
Dial-in number for the Conference Call (listen-only):
Germany:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; +49 (0) 69 7104 8870
For U.K. residents:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; +44 (0) 1212 60 48 61
For U.S. residents:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; +1 (1) 866 268 19 47
&nbsp;
Please dial in 10 minutes before the beginning of the conference.
Approximately two hours after the press conference, an audio replay of the conference will be available on http://www.morphosys.com.
&nbsp;
About MorphoSys:
MorphoSys is an independent biotechnology company that develops novel antibodies for therapeutic, diagnostic and research applications. The Company's HuCAL technology is one of the most powerful methods available for generating fully human antibodies. By successfully applying this and other proprietary technologies, MorphoSys has become a leader in the field of therapeutic antibodies, one of the fastest-growing drug classes in human health-care. Through its alliances with some of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, MorphoSys has created a pipeline of more than 60 drug candidates. The Company is expanding its drug pipeline by adding new partnered programs, and by building a portfolio of fully-owned therapeutic antibodies. For its proprietary portfolio, the Company is focused on the areas of oncology and inflammation, within which it plans to have eight active programs by the end of 2009. Its most advanced program is MOR103, a first-in-class, fully human antibody against GM-CSF. MorphoSys expects to commence a Phase Ib/IIa trial of this antibody in rheumatoid arthritis patients in the second half of 2009. Via its business unit AbD Serotec, MorphoSys is expanding the reach of its technologies in the diagnostics and research markets. MorphoSys is headquartered in Munich, Germany and listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "MOR". For further information, visit http://www.morphosys.com/

&nbsp;
&nbsp;
HuCAL®, HuCAL GOLD®, HuCAL PLATINUM®, CysDisplay® and RapMAT® are registered trademarks of MorphoSys AG.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
This communication contains certain forward-looking statements concerning the MorphoSys group of companies. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgment of MorphoSys as of the date of this release and involve risks and uncertainties. Should actual conditions differ from the Company's assumptions, actual results and actions may differ from those anticipated. MorphoSys does not intend to update any of these forward-looking statements as far as the wording of the relevant press release is concerned.
&nbsp;
For more information, please contact MorphoSys:
Dr. Claudia Gutjahr-Löser, Head of Corporate Communications &amp; IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-122
&nbsp;
Mario Brkulj, Senior Manager Corporate Communications &amp; IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-454
&nbsp;
Jessica Kulpi, Specialist Corporate Communications &amp; IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-454
&nbsp;
investors@morphosys.com]]></description>
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<item >
<title><![CDATA[MorphoSys and Daiichi Sankyo Forge Alliance to Develop Novel Antibody Therapies against Hospital-Acquired Infections]]></title>
<link>http://www.morphosys.com/en/news_investors/press-release-691.html</link>
<guid>http://www.morphosys.com/en/news_investors/press-release-691.html</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:30:00 +0200</pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[MorphoSys Secures First Therapeutic Alliance Focused on Infectious Diseases
&nbsp;
MorphoSys AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: MOR; Prime Standard Segment) announced today the formation of a new alliance with DAIICHI SANKYO COMPANY, LIMITED (TSE: 4568) in the discovery and development of therapeutic antibodies for hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infections. Daiichi Sankyo becomes MorphoSys's first collaborator for HuCAL PLATINUM®-based drug discovery in infectious diseases.
&nbsp;
"This is another landmark deal for MorphoSys and is our first initiative in the infectious disease arena," commented Dr. Simon Moroney, Chief Executive Officer of MorphoSys AG. "Today's news is proof that MorphoSys can tap new growth opportunities in the therapeutic antibody field on top of the established partnerships the Company has in place. We see lucrative opportunities for our new HuCAL Platinum technology in the infectious disease field, which we intend to exploit within selected partnerships in the years ahead."
&nbsp;
Under the terms of the agreement, MorphoSys and Daiichi Sankyo will collaboratively apply HuCAL PLATINUM, the latest and most powerful version of MorphoSys's antibody libraries. The companies will jointly apply established as well as novel approaches to generate optimized, fully human therapeutic antibodies against targets associated with nosocomial infections. Daiichi Sankyo will also commit to funding the development of certain infectious disease specific technology at MorphoSys, which will be used to identify the most effective antibody-based drugs.
&nbsp;
Total payments under the agreement include committed license fees and R&amp;D funding in addition to success-based development milestones. MorphoSys also stands to receive royalties on sales of marketed drugs emerging from the collaboration.
&nbsp;
There is a large, unmet need for effective, long-lasting drugs against pathogens in difficult to treat nosocomial infections. Current mortality rates in the specific area of focus are reported as 40%-60%, due primarily to resistance to existing antibiotics. The global market for such drugs targeted solely at blood stream infections and hospital acquired pneumonia is estimated to exceed $1 billion.
&nbsp;
MorphoSys and Daiichi Sankyo started working together in 2006 in a collaboration that has resulted to date in four active therapeutic antibody programs mainly in oncology. The new agreement is built on the strong existing relationship between the partners.
&nbsp;
About MorphoSys:
MorphoSys is an independent biotechnology company that develops novel antibodies for therapeutic, diagnostic and research applications. The Company's HuCAL technology is one of the most powerful methods available for generating fully human antibodies. By successfully applying this and other proprietary technologies, MorphoSys has become a leader in the field of therapeutic antibodies, one of the fastest-growing drug classes in human health-care. Through its alliances with some of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, MorphoSys has created a pipeline of more than 60 drug candidates. The Company is expanding its drug pipeline by adding new partnered programs, and by building a portfolio of fully-owned therapeutic antibodies. For its proprietary portfolio, the Company is focused on the areas of oncology and inflammation, within which it plans to have eight active programs by the end of 2009. Its most advanced program is MOR103, a first-in-class, fully human antibody against GM-CSF. MorphoSys expects to commence a Phase Ib/IIa trial of this antibody in rheumatoid arthritis patients in the second half of 2009. Via its business unit AbD Serotec, MorphoSys is expanding the reach of its technologies in the diagnostics and research markets. MorphoSys is headquartered in Munich, Germany and listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "MOR". For further information, visit http://www.morphosys.com/
&nbsp;
HuCAL®, HuCAL GOLD®, HuCAL PLATINUM® and RapMAT® are registered trademarks of MorphoSys AG
&nbsp;
About DAIICHI SANKYO
DAIICHI SANKYO is a global pharmaceutical company that focuses on researching and marketing innovative medications. The company was created in 2005 through the merger of two traditional Japanese enterprises, Daiichi and Sankyo. With net sales of nearly 5.9 billion  in fiscal year 2008, DAIICHI SANKYO is one of the world's 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. The company's world headquarters is in Tokyo, and its European base is located in Munich. DAIICHI SANKYO has affiliates in 12 European countries and has been one of the strongest Japanese pharmaceutical companies located in Europe since it set up European production facilities and marketing offices in 1990. The company's research activities focus on the areas of cardiovascular diseases, hematology, diabetes, anti-infectives and cancer. Its aim is to develop medications that are "best" in their class or to create new classes of pharmaceutical drugs. For more information, please visit: www.daiichi-sankyo.eu.
&nbsp;
This communication contains certain forward-looking statements concerning the MorphoSys group of companies. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgment of MorphoSys as of the date of this release and involve risks and uncertainties. Should actual conditions differ from the Company's assumptions, actual results and actions may differ from those anticipated. MorphoSys does not intend to update any of these forward-looking statements as far as the wording of the relevant press release is concerned.
&nbsp;
For more information, please contact:
&nbsp;
MorphoSys AG 
Dr. Claudia Gutjahr-Löser
Head of Corporate Communications &amp; IR
Phone: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-122
claudia.gutjahr-loeser@morphosys.com
&nbsp;
Mario Brkulj
Senior Manager Corporate Communications &amp; IR
Phone: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-454
mario.brkulj@morphosys.com
&nbsp;
Jessica Kulpi
Specialist Corporate Communications &amp; IR
Phone: +49 (0) 89 899 27 332
jessica.kulpi@morphosys.com
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
DAIICHI SANKYO EUROPE
Thorsten Schüller
Head of Media Relations Europe
Tel: + 49 (0)89/78 08 657
thorsten.schueller@daiichi-sankyo.eu]]></description>
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