MorphoSys AG / MorphoSys to Present MOR208 Preclinical Combination Therapy Data at ASCO Meeting . Processed and transmitted by Thomson Reuters ONE. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Synergistic Effects Seen with Four Approved Treatment Options Including Rituximab and Ofatumumab
MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX) today announced promising pre-clinical data on its proprietary drug candidate MOR208. MOR208 (formerly XmAb®5574) is a potent anti-CD19 antibody with a proprietary modification to the Fc portion that is being developed to treat B-cell malignancies. The pre-clinical data, which will be presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) on June 4, 2012, demonstrate the potential for four different combination therapies with MOR208 in models of lymphoma.
"Combination therapies including antibodies represent a promising approach to more efficacious anti-tumor therapy," commented Dr. Arndt Schottelius, Chief Development Officer of MorphoSys AG. "These intriguing results provide a first rationale for MOR208 drug combinations which warrant further evaluation in clinical trials."
MOR208 is an Fc-engineered, humanized, anti-CD19 antibody with superior cytotoxicity in a number of in vitro and in vivo models of lymphoma and leukemia. The antibody is currently being evaluated in patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia. In the preclinical studies which will be presented in full at the ASCO meeting, approved therapeutic agents including the small-molecule drugs bendamustine (Ribomustin®) and fludarabine (Fludara®) as well as the anti-CD20 antibodies rituximab (Rituxan®) and ofatumumab (Arzerra®) were evaluated for their ability to enhance the cytotoxicity of MOR208. The in vitro and in vivo activities of MOR208 in an aggressive lymphoma model were synergistically enhanced by all applied drugs, independent of their different modes of action.
In June 2010, MorphoSys AG and Xencor signed a collaboration agreement, which provided MorphoSys with an exclusive worldwide license to MOR208. The antibody has been engineered to possess significantly enhanced antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), thus improving a key mechanism for tumor cell killing and offering potential for enhanced efficacy compared to traditional antibodies for the treatment of cancer. MorphoSys will be solely responsible for further clinical development after successful completion of the currently active phase 1 clinical trial. The Company plans to initiate additional clinical trials for MOR208 in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) by the end of 2012.
MO208 represents one of four proprietary clinical programs MorphoSys is currently pursuing. The Company's proprietary portfolio also comprises MOR103, a fully human HuCAL antibody directed against GM-CSF (granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor), currently in development in RA and MS, as well as MOR202, a HuCAL antibody targeting CD38, which is being evaluated in 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 (http://www.abdserotec.com/) 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 (http://www.morphosys.com/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 (http://www.morphosys.com/)
HuCAL®, HuCAL GOLD®, HuCAL PLATINUM®, Ylanthia®, CysDisplay®, RapMAT® and arYla® are registered trademarks of MorphoSys AG.
XmAb® is a registered trademark of Xencor, Inc.
Ribomustin® is a registered trademark of Astellas.
Fludara® is a registered trademark of Genzyme/Sanofi Aventis.
Rituxan® is a registered trademark of Genentech/Roche.
Arzerra® is a registered trademark of GlaxoSmithKline.
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 27-122
Mario Brkulj
Senior Manager Corporate Communications & IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-454
Jessica Kulpi
Specialist Corporate Communications & IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-332
investors@morphosys.com (mailto:investors@morphosys.com)
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
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MorphoSys AG
Lena-Christ-Str. 48 Martinsried / München Germany
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