MorphoSys and LeukoSite Collaborate to Develop Monoclonal Antibodies for Inflammatory Disorders

Strategic Insights -

MorphoSys AG, a leading developer of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies, and LeukoSite Inc., a biotechnology company focused on developing drugs for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, have announced a two-year collaboration to discover and develop therapeutic monoclonal antibodies for inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. The partnership combines MorphoSys' technology for rapidly generating human therapeutic antibodies with LeukoSite's expertise in leukocyte biology.

Key Takeaways:

  • The collaboration aims to develop therapeutic monoclonal antibodies for inflammatory and autoimmune disorders using MorphoSys' HuCAL technology and LeukoSite's targets for selectively inhibiting disease-promoting white blood cells.
  • LeukoSite will contribute three disease targets while MorphoSys will apply its proprietary HuCAL technology to screen, optimize, and characterize potential therapeutic antibodies.
  • LeukoSite receives exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize antibody therapeutics resulting from the collaboration, with MorphoSys receiving an upfront fee, milestone payments, and royalties on commercial sales of resulting antibody products.
  • The partnership leverages MorphoSys' expertise in combinatorial biology and LeukoSite's focus on leukocyte biology to accelerate the discovery of lead compounds and drive development of novel therapeutics.
  • The collaboration is part of MorphoSys' efforts to apply its HuCAL technology to a range of diseases, including autoimmune and inflammatory disorders.
  • LeukoSite's innovative approach to leukocyte biology and MorphoSys' technology will enable the development of selective therapeutics that block disease-promoting actions of white blood cells without affecting normal immune system processes.

Statistics:

  • 2-year collaboration between MorphoSys and LeukoSite
  • 3 disease targets contributed by LeukoSite
  • Exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize antibody therapeutics granted to LeukoSite
  • Upfront fee and milestone payments received by MorphoSys
  • Royalties on commercial sales of antibody products to be received by MorphoSys
  • Eight research and development programs underway at LeukoSite, with three drug candidates in development
  • Collaboration with multiple partners, including Warner-Lambert Co., Roche Bioscience, Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd., Genentech, Inc., and Ilex Oncology, Inc.

Sources:

  • MorphoSys AG and LeukoSite Inc. press release dated August 20, 1998 (PRNewswire)
  • LeukoSite, Inc. filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission
  • MorphoSys AG website
  • LeukoSite, Inc. website
  • Public Relations Newswire
  • Company News On-Call
  • Evening Standard (London)