MorphoSys Announces Clinical Milestone for Start of Bayer's Phase 2 Trial Designed to Support Registration of Anetumab Ravtansine

MARTINSRIED / MUNICH, Germany, Jan. 26, 2016 -- MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX; OTC: MPSYY) today announced that the company earned a milestone payment with Bayer's initiation of a global phase 2 clinical study designed to support registration of anetumab ravtansine (BAY 94-9343). Anetumab ravtansine, an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting mesothelin, is a potential new treatment for mesothelioma developed by Bayer using MorphoSys's HuCAL technology. Further financial details were not disclosed.

"We are delighted to see our partner Bayer moving anetumab ravtansine into a clinical study designed to support its registration in mesothelioma, an indication with high medical need", commented Dr. Marlies Sproll, Chief Scientific Officer of MorphoSys AG. "This is the fourth antibody derived from the MorphoSys technology platform to advance into decisive stages of clinical development. This again reflects the increasing maturity and value of the MorphoSys pipeline comprising both proprietary and partnered programs."

MorphoSys's collaboration with Bayer has resulted in two clinical programs to date. In total, MorphoSys's partnered and proprietary clinical pipeline currently comprises 25 unique antibody molecules which are currently being evaluated in more than 50 clinical trials.

About MorphoSys:

MorphoSys developed HuCAL, the most successful antibody library technology in the pharmaceutical industry. By successfully applying this and other patented technologies, MorphoSys has become a leader in the field of therapeutic antibodies, one of the fastest-growing drug classes in human healthcare.

Together with its pharmaceutical partners, MorphoSys has built a therapeutic pipeline of more than 100 human antibody drug candidates for the treatment of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and Alzheimer's disease, to name just a few. With its ongoing commitment to new antibody technology and drug development, MorphoSys is focused on making the healthcare products of tomorrow. MorphoSys is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol MOR. For regular updates about MorphoSys, visit http://www.morphosys.com.

HuCAL®, HuCAL GOLD®, HuCAL PLATINUM®, CysDisplay®, RapMAT®, arYla®, Ylanthia®, 100 billion high potentials®, Slonomics®, Lanthio Pharma® and LanthioPep® are registered trademarks of the MorphoSys Group.

This communication contains certain forward-looking statements concerning the MorphoSys group of companies, The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgment of MorphoSys as of the date of this release and involve risks and uncertainties, Should actual conditions differ from the Company's assumptions, actual results and actions may differ from those anticipated, MorphoSys does not intend to update any of these forward-looking statements as far as the wording of the relevant press release is concerned.

For more information, please contact:
MorphoSys AG
Dr. Claudia Gutjahr-Löser
Head of Corporate Communications & IR

Alexandra Goller
Senior Manager Corporate Communications & IR

Jochen Orlowski
Associate Director Corporate Communications & IR

Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-404
[email protected]

Media Release (PDF) http://hugin.info/130295/R/1981085/725779.pdf

HUG#1981085