MorphoSys Receives Two Phase 2 Milestone Payments from Janssen

MorphoSys AG has announced that it has received clinical milestone payments from Janssen Biotech, Inc. ("Janssen") following the initiation of two clinical trials.

One trial initiated in asthmatic patients is studying the HuCAL antibody CNTO 3157 and a second trial initiated in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis is studying the HuCAL antibody CNTO 6785. Further financial details were not disclosed.

"The status of our partners' programs is of utmost importance to MorphoSys, as it is an important leading indicator of future earnings potential," commented Dr. Marlies Sproll, Chief Scientific Officer of MorphoSys AG.

Dr. Sproll continued, "Our collaboration with Janssen has contributed significantly to our pipeline with clinical candidates in various inflammatory indications and we are delighted to see these two programs advance."

In total, MorphoSys's clinical pipeline now comprises 21 clinical programs. Of these, 17 are programs that were initiated by partners, of which seven are in Phase 1, nine are in Phase 2 and one is in Phase 3 development.

In addition, MOR202, which is being co-developed with Celgene, is in a phase 1/2a trial for multiple myeloma. MOR208, which has concluded a phase 1 trial for chronic lymphocytic leukemia is currently being evaluated in two phase 2 trials in B-ALL and NHL.

MOR103, partnered with GSK, has concluded a phase 1b/2a trial in rheumatoid arthritis, and is currently being evaluated in a phase 1b trial in multiple sclerosis.