MorphoSys and Boehringer Ingelheim begin antibody programme

Published: 19-Aug-2004

German companies MorphoSys and Boehringer Ingelheim have announced the start of a new programme for the development of a therapeutic antibody against an undisclosed target molecule involved in cardiovascular diseases.


German companies MorphoSys and Boehringer Ingelheim have announced the start of a new programme for the development of a therapeutic antibody against an undisclosed target molecule involved in cardiovascular diseases.

MorphoSys will generate this antibody using its proprietary HuCAL GOLD technology. Boehringer Ingelheim will carry out the preclinical and clinical development, as well as subsequent marketing of all resulting products. MorphoSys will receiveng milestone payments and royalties.

The initiation of the new antibody programme was made in the context of the mutual co-operation and licence agreement signed in February 2003. Under this agreement, MorphoSys received the exclusive, global license for certain patents owned by Boehringer Ingelheim. These patent rights related to the development, production and sale of therapeutic and diagnostic antibodies against a target molecule, ICAM-1.

ICAM-1 is the basis for MorphoSys' proprietary product programs MOR101 and MOR102, which are intended for the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis and dermal burns. In return for this consideration, Boehringer Ingelheim was granted the option to develop two therapeutic antibodies using MorphoSys' HuCAL technology and exercised its first therapeutic antibody program option in November 2003.

This announcement represents the exercise of Boehringer Ingelheim's second option for the development of a therapeutic antibody using the HuCAL technology.

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