MorphoSys Achieves Fourth Therapeutic Milestone in Centocor

MorphoSys AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: MOR; Prime Standard Segment) today announced the achievement of a fourth therapeutic milestone within the scope of its collaboration with Centocor Inc. In meeting the milestone, MorphoSys developed several highly optimized fully human IgG antibodies using its proprietary HuCAL GOLD® antibody library against a Centocor target involved in inflammatory and auto immune diseases. As part of the collaboration milestone, MorphoSys applied its proprietary HuCAL GOLD® antibody library in order to generate antibodies which passed pre-defined criteria. Achievement of the milestone triggered a payment from Centocor to MorphoSys. Further financial details were not disclosed.

The cooperation between MorphoSys and Centocor, initiated in December 2000, is aimed at the development of human therapeutic antibodies in a range of indications. In December 2004 the collaboration was extended by another three years. Within the scope of the collaboration, Centocor has access to HuCAL GOLD® for the development of therapeutic antibodies as well as for research purposes. Additionally, Centocor uses AutoCALTM, the MorphoSys-developed system for automated screening of the HuCAL® antibody library. In September 2005, both companies launched a new antibody program to develop a therapeutic antibody against a Centocor target molecule involved in immune-mediated and inflammatory diseases. “Our successful collaboration with Centocor continues to deliver progress towards new therapeutic antibodies, as evidenced by this fourth successful therapeutic milestone,” commented Dr. Simon Moroney, Chief Executive Officer of MorphoSys AG.


About MorphoSys:
MorphoSys develops and applies innovative technologies for the production of synthetic antibodies which accelerate drug discovery and target characterization. Founded in 1992, the Company’s proprietary Human Combinatorial Antibody Library (HuCAL?) technology is used by researchers worldwide for human antibody generation. The Company currently has licensing agreements and/or research collaborations with Bayer (USA), Boehringer Ingelheim (Germany), Bristol-Myers Squibb (USA), Centocor Inc. (USA), GPC Biotech AG (Germany), Hoffmann-La Roche AG (Switzerland), ImmunoGen Inc. (USA), Merck & Co., Inc. (USA), Novartis AG (Switzerland), Novoplant GmbH (Germany), Pfizer Inc. (USA), ProChon Biotech Ltd. (Israel), Schering AG (Germany), Shionogi & Co., Ltd. (Japan), Xoma Ltd. (USA) and others. Additionally, MorphoSys is active in the antibody research market through its Antibodies by Design business unit. Antibodies by Design was founded in 2003 for the purpose of exploiting the MorphoSys non-therapeutic antibody markets. MorphoSys’ activities in the research antibody segment were significantly strengthened through the acquisition of the U.K. and U.S.-based Biogenesis Group in January 2005 and the Serotec Group in 2006. For further information please visit the corporate website at: http://www.morphosys.com/.



Statements included in this press release which are not historical in nature are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, “forward-looking statements” for purposes of the safe harbour provided by Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words including “anticipates”, “believes”, “intends”, “estimates”, “expects” and similar expressions. The company cautions readers that forward-looking statements, including without limitation those relating to the company’s future operations and business prospects, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Factors that may affect future operations and business prospects include, but are not limited to, clinical and scientific results and developments concerning corporate collaborations and the company’s proprietary rights and other factors described in the prospectus relating to the company’s recent public offering.

Contact Information

Dr. Claudia Gutjahr-Löser

Director Corporate Communications

MorphoSys AG

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