MorphoSys Receives Research Grant to Advance Anti-CD38 Cancer Program MOR202 and Explore Relevant Biomarkers
Project is Part of Munich's Cluster Initiative "m4 - Personalized Medicine and Targeted Therapies"
MorphoSys AG announced that it has been awarded a grant by the German Federal Ministry of education and Research, BMBF. The funding of approximately EUR 1 million supports MorphoSys in accelerating the development of its HuCAL-based cancer program MOR202 into clinical development for the treatment of multiple myeloma. As part of the program, the Company plans to explore relevant biomarkers for the anti-CD38 approach in collaboration with Klinikum rechts der Isar, the university hospital of Munich Technical University. The program is part of Munich's biotechnology initiative "m4 - Personalized medicine and Targeted Therapies - A New Dimension in Drug Development in the Munich Region", which this year received high-tech cluster status in a German government funding competition.
MOR202 is a fully human, HuCAL antibody directed against CD38, a membrane-bound glycoprotein that is a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of multiple myeloma and certain leukemias. In pre-clinical studies, MOR202 effectively killed cancer cells from primary patient tumor material and certain hematologic cancer cell lines. Furthermore, preclinical efficacy was shown by demonstrating inhibition of tumor growth in SCID-mouse xenograft tumor models. The program is expected to move into clinical trials in Q1 2011.
"We believe that MOR202 has a very competitive profile and distinct advantages over similar programs in the industry. As part of the research program with Klinikum rechts der Isar we plan to explore certain biomarkers for this new therapeutic approach, thereby further differentiating our program," commented Dr. Arndt Schottelius, Chief Development Officer of MorphoSys AG. "This grant supports the MOR202 program, for which we are on track to file a clinical trial application in Europe before the end of 2010."
Other news from the department research and development

Get the life science industry in your inbox
By submitting this form you agree that LUMITOS AG will send you the newsletter(s) selected above by email. Your data will not be passed on to third parties. Your data will be stored and processed in accordance with our data protection regulations. LUMITOS may contact you by email for the purpose of advertising or market and opinion surveys. You can revoke your consent at any time without giving reasons to LUMITOS AG, Ernst-Augustin-Str. 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany or by e-mail at revoke@lumitos.com with effect for the future. In addition, each email contains a link to unsubscribe from the corresponding newsletter.
More news from our other portals
Last viewed contents
List_of_subjects_in_Gray's_Anatomy:_IV._Myology
Breast_cancer_chemotherapy
Pharming and Swedish Orphan announce publication of randomized clinical trial results with recombinant human C1 inhibitor
Nano shake-up - UD researchers demonstrate that processing can affect size of nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery

Biodiesel From Cellulosic Sugars - Agreement between ExxonMobil and Renewable Energy Group
Anti-transglutaminase_antibodies
Yersinia_pestis
Evotec Signs Ion Channel Hit Identification Agreement with Almirall
List_of_subjects_in_Gray's_Anatomy:_XI._Splanchnology
Researchers rapidly turn bacteria into biotech factories
Greater_pancreatic_artery
