MorphoSys and G7 Therapeutics Sign Alliance to Develop Innovative Antibody Therapeutics

Collaboration Broadens MorphoSys' Capabilities to Target Novel Antigen Classes


MARTINSRIED / MUNICH, Germany, Aug. 4, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX, OTC: MPSYY) and G7 Therapeutics AG announced today that they have signed an agreement to collaborate on novel antibody therapeutics targeting G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and potentially other disease-related transmembrane proteins such as ion channels. Under the terms of the agreement, G7 Therapeutics will generate a set of disease-relevant receptors proposed by MorphoSys. MorphoSys will then apply its proprietary Ylanthia antibody library to discover and develop antibody therapeutics against these receptors. MorphoSys has the right to sublicense to third parties the access to these targets in conjunction with therapeutic antibody candidates.

Dr. Marlies Sproll, Chief Scientific Officer of MorphoSys AG, commented: "G7 Therapeutics' approach using directed evolution technologies broadens our existing development capabilities in this innovative area of research. High quality therapeutic antibodies targeting GPCRs and other transmembrane molecules represent a promising addition to our proprietary development pipeline."

Dr. Carlo Bertozzi, Chief Executive Officer of G7 Therapeutics, added: "Our proprietary CHESS and SaBRE technologies allow us to generate tailor-made GPCRs with superior biophysical properties making them ideally suited for modern integrated small molecule drug discovery approaches and efficient selection of biologics. Therefore, we are very excited to engage with MorphoSys, a leader in the field of therapeutic antibodies, to contribute jointly to the advancement of GPCR-targeting biotherapeutics."

G7 Therapeutics' platforms SaBRE and CHESS create panels of GPCR variants with enhanced stability and versatility. These GPCRs are evolved from populations containing hundreds of millions of variants of an ancestor GPCR, ensuring the identification of the best possible variant for downstream drug discovery applications. This unique technology ensures that the function of the receptor stays fully intact.

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 and other biologics 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

About G7 Therapeutics:
G7 Therapeutics, a Swiss-based biotech company, develops novel medicines targeting the pharmaceutically highly relevant yet largely untapped superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). G7 Therapeutics' proprietary technology portfolio allows both the generation and removal of functional GPCRs from the complex cellular system for investigations on a molecular level. G7 Therapeutics' technological superiorities (CHESS and SaBRE platform) ensure the timely and reliable creation of GPCRs with outstanding biophysical properties to meet the requirements for modern drug discovery and design. While entering dedicated development partnerships with pharmaceutical companies, G7 Therapeutics focuses on its own proprietary pipeline by unlocking GPCRs implicated in disease areas with distinct unmet medical needs. For more information about G7 Therapeutics, please visit www.g7therapeutics.com.

HuCAL®, HuCAL GOLD®, HuCAL PLATINUM®, CysDisplay®, RapMAT®, arYla®, Ylanthia® and 100 billion high potentials® are registered trademarks of MorphoSys AG.
Slonomics® is a registered trademark of Sloning BioTechnology GmbH, a subsidiary of MorphoSys AG.

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

Mario Brkulj
Associate Director Corporate Communications & IR

Alexandra Goller
Manager Corporate Communications & IR

Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-404
investors@morphosys.com

G7 Therapeutics
Dr. Carlo Bertozzi
CEO
carlo.bertozzi@g7therapeutics.com

Media Release (PDF) http://hugin.info/130295/R/1943188/703448.pdf

HUG#1943188