MorphoSys Obtains PER.C6® Human Cell Line from Crucell

MorphoSys AG has announced the signing of a second PER.C6^® license agreement with Crucell N.V. and contract manufacturer DSM Biologics.

This license agreement allows MorphoSys to use the PER.C6^® cell line in the production of clinical grade material for the development of its proprietary therapeutic antibody program MOR103.

MOR103 is a fully human HuCAL^® antibody, developed in the area of inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Further, MorphoSys has signed a Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Agreement with DSM Biologics to produce the clinical grade material in its FDA-approved facilities in Groningen, the Netherlands.

"Today's news shows that MorphoSys's MOR103 program is on track towards the next development stage - the filing of an IND in the second half of 2007," commented Dr. Marlies Sproll, Chief Scientific Officer of MorphoSys.

"This collaboration brings together a fully human antibody to treat inflammatory diseases with production capabilities in the same fully-human environment."

"Manufacturing human antibodies in such a manner offers several potential advantages over alternative production methods, especially when targeting chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis."

"We are very pleased that respected antibody companies like MorphoSys are being convinced of the advantages of PER.C6^® for antibody production," said Dr Jaap Goudsmit, Chief Scientific Officer of Crucell.

"As we have seen with vaccines, PER.C6^® is increasingly being accepted as the cell substrate for the production of antibodies."

"We are very pleased that MorphoSys continues to successfully utilize the PER.C6^® cell line, and that they have chosen DSM Biologics as their preferred manufacturing partner," said Terry Novak, Business Director and Chief Marketing Officer at DSM Biologics.

"It is exciting that we are combining two strong platforms for fully human antibodies."