MorphoSys Announces Clinical Milestone in Cancer Antibody Program with Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals
MorphoSys AG announced that Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals has reached the next milestone by initiating a Phase 1 clinical trial with the HuCAL-derived antibody-drug conjugate BAY 94-9343 in the therapeutic area of oncology. This achievement marks the second clinical milestone within MorphoSys's alliance with Bayer HealthCare.
"Today's news underlines once again the substantial clinical output our partners have generated based on our HuCAL platform. Based on the number of clinical candidates in development we believe HuCAL to be the most successful antibody library technology in the pharmaceutical industry," commented Dr. Marlies Sproll, Chief Scientific Officer of MorphoSys AG.
The current program BAY 94-9343 is directed against the target molecule mesothelin. Mesothelin is highly expressed on mesotheliomas and on ovarian and pancreatic tumors. BAY 94-9343 is the second fully human HuCAL-based antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) to enter clinical trials. ADCs comprise antibodies linked to cytotoxic drugs, and combine the targeting properties of an antibody with the cell-destroying effect of a conjugated drug. In preclinical testing, BAY 94-9343 demonstrated potent, targeted anticancer activity against mesothelin-expressing tumors.
MorphoSys projected that in 2011 between one and three partnered programs could enter clinical trials. Today's news represents the second HuCAL-derived antibody to enter clinical development this year. In total, MorphoSys's clinical pipeline now comprises twelve partnered programs in Phase 1 and five in Phase 2 development as well as the Company's proprietary programs MOR103, which is in a Phase 1b/2a trial for rheumatoid arthritis, MOR208, which is in a Phase 1/2a trial for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and MOR202, which is in a Phase 1/2a trial for multiple myeloma.
Organizations
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.
Most read news
More news from our other portals
See the theme worlds for related content
Topic world Antibodies
Antibodies are specialized molecules of our immune system that can specifically recognize and neutralize pathogens or foreign substances. Antibody research in biotech and pharma has recognized this natural defense potential and is working intensively to make it therapeutically useful. From monoclonal antibodies used against cancer or autoimmune diseases to antibody-drug conjugates that specifically transport drugs to disease cells - the possibilities are enormous

Topic world Antibodies
Antibodies are specialized molecules of our immune system that can specifically recognize and neutralize pathogens or foreign substances. Antibody research in biotech and pharma has recognized this natural defense potential and is working intensively to make it therapeutically useful. From monoclonal antibodies used against cancer or autoimmune diseases to antibody-drug conjugates that specifically transport drugs to disease cells - the possibilities are enormous