MorphoSys AG Sells Drug to GlaxoSmithKline for $577 Million Plus Royalties

MARTINSRIED, GERMANY and MUNCHEN, GERMANY--(Marketwired - June 03, 2013) - MorphoSys AG / MorphoSys Signs Global License Agreement with GlaxoSmithKline for Anti-Inflammatory Program MOR103

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MorphoSys to Receive Committed and Success-based Payments of up to EUR 445 Million and Double-digit Royalties on Net Sales

Conference call today at 5:00pm CET (4:00pm GMT/11:00am EST

MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX) announced today that they have entered into a global agreement with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to develop and commercialize MOR103. MOR103 is MorphoSys’s proprietary HuCAL-derived antibody against GM-CSF, which has concluded Phase 1/2 development in mild to moderate rheumatoid arthritis.

Under the terms of the agreement, GSK will assume responsibility for all subsequent development and commercialization of MOR103. As part of the agreement, MorphoSys receives an immediate upfront payment of EUR 22.5 million. On achievement of certain developmental, regulatory, commercial and sales-based milestones, MorphoSys would be eligible to receive additional payments from GSK of up to EUR 423 million, in addition to tiered, double-digit royalties on net sales.

“This transaction is a major milestone for MorphoSys. Our goal was to secure an agreement with a company having the commitment and expertise to turn MOR103 into a successful drug, and in GSK we have clearly found such a partner. We hope this alliance will result in a significant return on investment for the MOR103 program and to become a major value driver for MorphoSys,” commented Dr. Simon Moroney, Chief Executive Officer of MorphoSys AG.

“Today’s announcement clearly illustrates our ability to take proprietary programs from target to clinical proof of concept and an attractive partnership. The pre-clinical and clinical data we have generated show that MOR103 has the potential to offer new treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis. We also believe that this molecule has potential in other indications as well. I’m delighted that with this agreement, MOR103 will progress to the next stage in its development,” commented Dr. Arndt Schottelius, Chief Development Officer of MorphoSys AG.

MOR103 has concluded a Phase 1 study in healthy volunteers and a Phase 1/2 clinical trial in mild to moderate rheumatoid arthritis patients. Additionally, MOR103 is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1b dose-escalation safety study in multiple sclerosis. MOR103 is an investigational medicine that is not approved for use anywhere in the world.

As a result of the transaction, MorphoSys increased its financial guidance for 2013. MorphoSys expects revenues of approximately EUR 68 million to EUR 72 million (previously EUR 48 million to EUR 52 million) and an EBIT of EUR -2 million to EUR +2 million (previously EUR -18 million to EUR -22 million). The original guidance did not include a successful out-licensing of any of the Company’s proprietary development programs. Around EUR 20 million of the upfront payment of EUR 22.5 million shall be booked with signature. The remaining amount shall be distributed over 2013 and 2014 according to the development plan for the ongoing phase 1b MS trial of MOR103.

MorphoSys will hold a public conference call today, 3 June 2013 at 05:00 p.m. CEST (11:00 a.m. EDT, 04:00 p.m. BST) to present more information on the agreement.

Dial-in number for the Conference Call (listen-only): Germany: +49 89 2444 32975 For U.K. residents: +44 20 3003 2666 For U.S. residents: +1 202 204 1514 

Please dial in 10 minutes before the beginning of the conference.

A webcast replay and transcript will be made available at http://www.morphosys.com/conference-calls.

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 70 human antibody drug candidates 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

HuCAL®, HuCAL GOLD®, HuCAL PLATINUM®, CysDisplay®, RapMAT®, arYla® and 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.

Media Release (PDF): http://hugin.info/130295/R/1706626/564976.pdf

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Source: MorphoSys AG via Thomson Reuters ONE

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