MorphoSys and the University of Melbourne File New Patent
Applications in MOR103 Program>
MorphoSys and the University of Melbourne File New Patent Applications in MOR103 Program
(Thomson Reuters ONE) - Corporate news announcement processed and transmitted by Hugin AS.The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX) and theUniversity of Melbourne announced today an agreement to cooperate oninvestigating new therapeutic applications for MorphoSys's MOR103program. MOR103, a HuCAL antibody against human GM-CSF (Granulocytemacrophage-colony stimulating factor), is currently in developmentfor the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The collaborationannounced today will focus on new therapeutic areas in which GM-CSFhas recently been implicated in as-yet unpublished work ofresearchers at the University of Melbourne. As part of the expandedrelationship, new patent applications have been filed, which areintended to broaden the patent position of the anti-GM-CSF approach.Under the terms of the agreement, MorphoSys will fund researchactivities at the University of Melbourne in multiple newindications. The University of Melbourne will receive an upfrontpayment and will be entitled to research funding, clinical milestoneand royalty payments. Further financial details were not disclosed."The University of Melbourne, and in particular the research group ofProfessor John Hamilton, has long been at the cutting edge ofresearch on GM-CSF. We are excited to be able to deepen ourrelationship with MorphoSys and help speed the transition of theselaboratory insights into clinical applications for the benefit ofpatients", said Dr Charlie Day, CEO of Melbourne Ventures, thetechnology commercialization company for the University of Melbourne."Researchers at the University of Melbourne have now generatedevidence for the involvement of GM-CSF in indications beyond thosethat were already known", commented Dr. Arndt Schottelius, ChiefDevelopment Officer of MorphoSys AG. "We look forward to workingclosely with them to explore the potential of targeting GM-CSF inthese additional indications, and expand still further the patentposition around inhibitors of GM-CSF. Meanwhile, development of ouranti-GM-CSF antibody MOR103 in RA continues according to plan."In 2007, MorphoSys signed an agreement with the University ofMelbourne, providing the company with an exclusive license to apatent family covering therapeutic uses of inhibitors of GM-CSF. Theclaims of the patent are directed to methods of ameliorating theeffects of inflammation by administering to a patient an antibodydirected against GM-CSF. In November 2008, the U.S. Patent &Trademark Office (USPTO) issued the patent U.S. Patent No. 7,455,836,covering key uses of antibodies against GM-CSF. Human GM-CSF isalready implicated in a number of medical conditions.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 a publicly traded biotechnology company focused on thegeneration of fully human antibodies as a means to discover anddevelop innovative antibody-based drugs against life-threateningdiseases. MorphoSys's goal is to establish HuCAL as the technology ofchoice for antibody generation in research, diagnostics andtherapeutic applications. The Company currently has therapeutic andresearch alliances with the majority of the world's largestpharmaceutical companies including Boehringer Ingelheim, CentocorOrtho Biotech Inc./Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, Pfizer and Roche.Within these partnerships, more than 50 therapeutic antibody programsare ongoing in which MorphoSys participates through exclusive licenseand milestones payments as well as royalties on any end products.Additionally, MorphoSys is active in the antibody research marketthrough its AbD Serotec business unit. The business unit hasoperations in Germany (Munich), the U.S. (Raleigh, NC) and U.K.(Oxford). For further information please visithttp://www.morphosys.com/About the University of Melbourne / Melbourne Ventures:Melbourne Ventures Pty Ltd is the technology commercialisationcompany of the University of Melbourne, one of the top 40Universities in the world (Times Higher Education 2008). TheUniversity of Melbourne is renowned as Australia's leadingbiomedical enterprise, training more health professionals andattracting more nationally competitive grants for biomedical researchthan any other Australian university. A wholly owned subsidiary ofthe University, Melbourne Ventures provides commercialisation and IPmanagement expertise across the full breadth of faculties anddepartments, and is responsible for negotiating licences andinvestments for the transfer and commercialisation of Universitydeveloped technologies. For further information please visit ourwebsite at www.melbourneventures.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/1326588/312293.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;
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Datum: 02.07.2009 - 01:30 Uhr
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