Milestone payment
MorphoSys AG said its partner, Centocor Inc, enrolled the first patient in a Phase II clinical trial of a fully human antibody based on Morphosys’ HUCAL technology. The move triggers a milestone payment to the Martinsreid, Germany–based company.
A Phase I clinical trial using the same antibody in oncology patients started in 2007 and is ongoing. The new trial is in an immunology indication.
“[This] marks further significant progress within our partnered therapeutic antibody business and underpins the variety of commercial opportunities inherent in our pipeline,” said Simon Moroney, Chief Executive Officer of MorphoSys.
“Broadening [their use] is at the heart of the commercial success of several antibody therapies currently on the market. For MorphoSys, additional indications represent further value for our partnered drug pipeline, as [they] lead to higher clinical milestones and royalty-based income.”
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