MorphoSys Reports Promising Pre-clinical Data for MOR202

MorphoSys AG /
MorphoSys Reports Promising Pre-clinical Data for MOR202
. Processed and transmitted by Thomson Reuters ONE.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Combination Studies to be Presented at Annual Meeting of the American Society of
Clinical Oncology (ASCO)MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX) today announced
promising pre-clinical data on its proprietary drug candidate MOR202, a HuCAL-
derived, fully human anti-CD38 antibody. Studies showed that by combining MOR202
with each of two approved drugs for the treatment of multiple myeloma, the anti-
cancer activity of the antibody could be enhanced. The effects were seen in in
vitro and in vivo models of the disease. The pre-clinical data will be presented
at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO),
to be held June 3-7, 2011, at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago."The synergistic effects that we've seen in pre-clinical studies are very
encouraging and point towards a potential clinical use of MOR202," commented Dr.
Arndt Schottelius, Chief Development Officer of MorphoSys AG. "We look forward
to evaluating MOR202 in a phase 1/2a clinical trial in patients with multiple
myeloma, which we expect to start shortly."Multiple myeloma is the second most common hematologic cancer and the most
common cancer to involve bone, resulting in severe pain and bone fractures over
the course of the disease. In vitro, MOR202 mediates the killing of multiple
myeloma cells by antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). In combination
with the drug bortezomib (Velcade(®)), MOR202 displayed an enhanced direct
cytotoxic effect on multiple myeloma cells. The drug lenalidomide (Revlimid(®))
synergistically enhanced MOR202 activity on multiple myeloma cells by several
mechanisms, including direct cytotoxicity, activation of effector cells and
increased CD38 expression levels on the tumor cell surface.In an in vivo mouse model of multiple myeloma, MOR202 reduces tumor load as well
as tumor-mediated bone destruction. In this model, MOR202 in combination with
either bortezomib or lenalidomide completely abolished bone destruction in a
synergistic manner. These findings support further investigation of MOR202
combination regimens in clinical trials.
The abstract is available on www.asco.org.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 being 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, visithttp://www.morphosys.com/HuCAL(®), HuCAL GOLD(®), HuCAL PLATINUM(®), CysDisplay(®) and RapMAT(®) are
registered trademarks of MorphoSys; arYla(TM) is a trademark of MorphoSys.
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 & IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-122Mario Brkulj
Senior Manager Corporate Communications & IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-454Jessica Kulpi
Specialist Corporate Communications & IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-332investors@morphosys.com
--- End of Message --- MorphoSys AG
Lena-Christ-Str. 48 Martinsried / München GermanyWKN: 663200;ISIN: DE0006632003;Index:TecDAX,CDAX,Prime All Share,TECH All Share,HDAX,MIDCAP;
Listed: Freiverkehr in Börse Stuttgart,
Freiverkehr in Hanseatische Wertpapierbörse zu Hamburg,
Freiverkehr in Börse Berlin,
Freiverkehr in Börse Düsseldorf,
Freiverkehr in Bayerische Börse München,
Freiverkehr in Niedersächsische Börse zu Hannover,
Prime Standard in Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse,
Regulierter Markt in Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse;
Press Release:
http://hugin.info/130295/R/1516881/453243.pdf
This announcement is distributed by Thomson Reuters on behalf of
Thomson Reuters clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that:
(i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and
other applicable laws; and
(ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and
originality of the information contained therein.

Source: MorphoSys AG via Thomson Reuters ONE[HUG#1516881]