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Pharmaceutical industry

MorphoSys AG Forms New Alliance with ContraFect Corp. to Develop Therapeutic Antibodies

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

MorphoSys AG, a biotechnology company based in Germany, has announced a new five-year alliance with ContraFect Corp., a US-based biotech company, to collaborate on the discovery and development of therapeutic antibodies for infectious diseases. The agreement will provide ContraFect with access to MorphoSys's HuCAL PLATINUM technology and AutoCAL facilities, and the two companies will work together to develop treatments for diseases such as MRSA infections and influenza.

Key Takeaways:

  • MorphoSys AG has formed a new five-year alliance with ContraFect Corp. to develop therapeutic antibodies for infectious diseases.
  • ContraFect will receive access to HuCAL PLATINUM, the latest version of MorphoSys's antibody libraries, and AutoCAL facilities in New York.
  • Payments under the agreement include committed annual license fees and success-based development milestones.
  • MorphoSys will receive royalties on sales of marketed drug products emerging from the collaboration.
  • MorphoSys's pipeline includes over 70 drug candidates, with 17 in clinical development.
  • The company's partners include blue-chip biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms such as Boehringer Ingelheim, Daiichi Sankyo, Merck & Company, Novartis, Pfizer, and Roche.
  • ContraFect's scientific approach is based on a combinatorial approach using multi-therapy antibody treatment to address drug resistance and therapy escape mechanisms.
  • Dr. Marlies Sproll, Chief Scientific Officer of MorphoSys AG, commented on the HuCAL PLATINUM technology's potential in yielding highly effective therapeutics for infectious diseases.
  • Dr. Robert Nowinski, Chief Executive Officer of ContraFect, stated that the company's approach uses antibodies to simultaneously attack multiple targets on pathogens, preventing genetic re-mutation or escape from therapy.

Statistics:

  • Over 60 drug candidates in MorphoSys's pipeline, with more than 70 drug candidates in total.
  • 17 drug candidates in clinical development for MorphoSys.
  • 10+ partnerships with blue-chip biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms, including Boehringer Ingelheim, Daiichi Sankyo, Merck & Company, Novartis, Pfizer, and Roche.
  • 5-year agreement between MorphoSys and ContraFect.
  • Committed annual license fees in addition to success-based development milestones.
  • 100%+ royalties on sales of marketed drug products emerging from the collaboration for MorphoSys.

Sources:

  • "MorphoSys AG Forms New Alliance with ContraFect Corp. to Develop Therapeutic Antibodies" by Marketwire via COMTEX, April 11, 2011.
  • MorphoSys AG's website, including information on the company's pipeline, partnerships, and HuCAL technology.
  • ContraFect Corp.'s website, including information on the company's scientific approach and initial products.
  • "HuCAL(R), HuCAL GOLD(R), HuCAL PLATINUM(R), AutoCAL(R), CysDisplay(R) and RapMAT(R) are registered trademarks of MorphoSys; arYla(TM) is a trademark of MorphoSys" statement.

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