MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX) announced today that Janssen Biotech, Inc. (formerly Centocor Ortho Biotech, Inc.) has initiated a phase 2 clinical trial in psoriasis patients with the HuCAL-derived antibody CNTO 1959. The event triggered a clinical milestone payment to MorphoSys. Further financial details were not disclosed.
“With every clinical milestone and every new phase 2 start the time where the first HuCAL-based antibody drug could enter the market gets closer. MorphoSys’s antibody pipeline has substantially matured over the last 18 months,” commented Dr. Marlies Sproll, Chief Scientific Officer of MorphoSys AG.
In total, MorphoSys’s clinical pipeline now comprises nine partnered programs in phase 1 and seven in phase 2 development as well as the Company’s proprietary programs MOR103, which is in a phase 1b/2a trial for rheumatoid arthritis, MOR208, which is in a phase 1 trial for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and MOR202, which is in a phase 1/2a trial for multiple myeloma.
About MorphoSys:
MorphoSys developed HuCAL, the most successful antibody library technology in the pharmaceutical industry. By successfully applying this and other patented technologies, MorphoSys has become a leader in the field of therapeutic antibodies, one of the fastest-growing drug classes in human healthcare. The company’s AbD Serotec unit uses HuCAL and other antibody technologies to generate superior monoclonal antibodies for research and diagnostic applications.
Together with its pharmaceutical partners, MorphoSys has built a therapeutic pipeline of more than 70 human antibody drug candidates for the treatment of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and Alzheimer’s disease, to name just a few. With its ongoing commitment to new antibody technology and drug development, MorphoSys is focused on making the healthcare products of tomorrow. MorphoSys is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol MOR. For regular updates about MorphoSys, visit http://www.morphosys.com
HuCAL®, HuCAL GOLD®, HuCAL PLATINUM®, arYla®, CysDisplay® and RapMAT® are registered trademarks of MorphoSys AG.
Ylanthia® and 100 billion high potentialsTM are 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.