MorphoSys Extends Deal with Schering

A collaboration to develop in vivo diagnostics and antibody therapeutics has been extended for two more years by MorphoSys (Martinsried, Germany) and Schering AG (Berlin, Germany).

In return for granting Schering access to its HuCAL Gold technology, used by researchers worldwide for human antibody generation, MorphoSys will receive annual license fees under the revised contract. Also, MorphoSys will receive funding for a team of scientists working at MorphoSys on Schering's behalf, license fees in respect of active diagnostic and therapeutic antibody projects, and milestone and royalty payments on products developed and brought to market.

As part of the collaboration, Schering also receives exclusive commercial licenses for several therapeutic antibody programs, relating to work on which both partners have been collaborating over the past three years. To date, the partners have identified three therapeutic antibody candidates that are being processed. Another program covers the use of an antibody in the field of in vivo diagnostics.

As part of their collaboration, Schering acquired 6.6% of outstanding shares of MorphoSys stock in December 2001. The original objective of the collaboration was to develop therapeutic antibodies and in vivo diagnostics, particularly in the field of oncology, one of Schering's core business areas.

"We believe that HuCAL is one of the most powerful technologies available for the generation of human antibodies,” noted Dr. Andreas Menrad, head of anti-angiogenesis research at Schering. "Based on the achieved successes to date, we are very pleased to extend the collaboration with MorphoSys.”





Related Links:
Schering AG
MorphoSys