AbD Serotec Secures Exclusive Worldwide License to Key Diagnostic Antibody
MorphoSys AG / AbD Serotec Secures Exclusive Worldwide License to Key Diagnostic Antibody processed and transmitted by Hugin AS. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Measurement of Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)Â a Valuable Diagnostic Tool during
Parathyroid Surgery
MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX) announced today that its
research and diagnostic antibodies unit AbD Serotec has signed an exclusive
license agreement with UCL Business PLC (UCLB), the technology development
company of University College London (UCL). The agreement provides AbD Serotec
with worldwide exclusive access to a potent anti-PTH antibody for commercial use
in research and diagnostic applications. The anti-PTH antibody forms the basis
of an existing relationship between AbD Serotec and a leading diagnostic company
which markets clinical parathyroid hormone assays.
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is the most important regulator of calcium levels in
the human body. When blood calcium becomes too low, calcium-sensing receptors in
the parathyroid gland are activated and parathyroid hormone is secreted, thereby
mobilizing calcium release from bone and suppressing calcium loss in urine.
Measurement of PTH is important in determining the cause of excessively high or
low calcium levels. High levels may be due to a parathyroid gland tumor, which
is usually benign (primary hyperparathyroidism) or secondary
hyperparathyroidism, which is usually a result of kidney failure. Low levels may
be the result of a failure of the parathyroid gland. In primary
hyperparathyroidism the parathyroid tumor must be removed. PTH assays are used
as a routine clinical tool to detect decreases in plasma PTH levels after all
diseased tissue has been excised, even whilst surgery is taking place. The test
allows a more limited procedure by confirming complete removal of diseased
tissue and has reduced the need for repeated surgery. PTH assays in other
conditions provide clinicians with important information that assists in
managing patients with abnormal calcium levels.
"Our goal is to achieve a market-leading position in those areas we see as our
sweet spots. In this particular case, the anti-PTH antibody sourced from our
relationship with University College London has already allowed us to forge a
first supply agreement with a leading diagnostic company. We have thus decided
to expand this strong position and take an exclusive license for this product
from UCLB," commented Dieter Feger, Head of AbD Serotec.
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 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 AG.
About UCL Business PLC
UCL Business PLC (UCLB) is responsible for technology development and commercial
transactions for University College London (UCL). Offering world-class expertise
in areas ranging from biomedicine to engineering, from the arts to the built
environment, UCLB works to make commercial connections between the expertise and
innovations of academics at UCL and the needs of industry and the wider
marketplace.
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
[HUG#1433569]
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MorphoSys AG
Lena-Christ-Str. 48 Martinsried / München Germany
WKN: 663200;ISIN: DE0006632003;Index:TecDAX,Prime All Share,CDAX,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 (PDF): http://hugin.info/130295/R/1433569/379633.pdf
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