MorphoSys AG Strengthens Patent Position on Lead Program MOR103

MARTINSRIED, GERMANY and MUNICH, GERMANY--(Marketwire - February 07, 2011) -

MorphoSys AG / MorphoSys Strengthens Patent Position on Lead Program MOR103 Processed and transmitted by Thomson Reuters. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX) announced today that the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted a patent covering the Company’s most advanced proprietary compound MOR103. The new patent (US 7,867,495) covers MorphoSys’s HuCAL antibody against GM-CSF as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, and has a scheduled expiry date in 2026, not including any potential extensions.

This newly issued patent complements a US patent granted in 2008 covering medical uses of antibodies against GM-CSF, to which MorphoSys has exclusive access under a license agreement with the University of Melbourne. Together, the two patent families provide strong intellectual property protection for the MOR103 program.

“The protection of our intellectual property is a central part of MorphoSys’s business model,” commented Dr. Simon Moroney, Chief Executive Officer of MorphoSys AG. “We will continue to strengthen still further our intellectual property position in antibody-based products and services, particularly in our most important markets Europe, the USA and Asia.”

Human GM-CSF (Granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor), the target molecule of MorphoSys’s lead program MOR103, is implicated in a number of inflammatory and other conditions including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and multiple sclerosis (MS). The HuCAL-derived, fully human antibody is currently being tested in a clinical Phase 1b/2a trial in RA patients. Additionally, MorphoSys plans to start a Phase 1b safety study of MOR103 in multiple sclerosis patients in 2011.

Currently, the Company is prosecuting more than 40 different proprietary patent families world-wide, in addition to those being pursued in cooperation with its partners.

About MorphoSys:

MorphoSys is an independent biotechnology company that develops novel antibodies for therapeutic, diagnostic and research applications. The Company’s HuCAL technology is one of the most powerful methods available for generating fully human antibodies. By successfully applying this and other proprietary technologies, MorphoSys has become a leader in the field of therapeutic antibodies, one of the fastest-growing drug classes in human health- care. Through its alliances with some of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, MorphoSys has created a pipeline of more than 60 drug candidates. The Company is expanding its drug pipeline by adding new partnered programs, and by building a portfolio of fully-owned therapeutic antibodies. For its proprietary portfolio, the Company is focused on the areas of oncology and inflammation. Its most advanced program MOR103, a first-in-class, fully human antibody against GM-CSF, is currently being tested in a Phase Ib/IIa trial in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Via its business unit AbD Serotec, MorphoSys is expanding the reach of its technologies in the diagnostics and research markets. MorphoSys is headquartered in Munich, Germany and listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol “MOR”. For further information, visit http://www.morphosys.com/

HuCAL®, HuCAL GOLD®, HuCAL PLATINUM®, CysDisplay® and RapMAT® are registered trademarks of MorphoSys; arYla™ is a trademark of MorphoSys.

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.

MorphoSys AG Lena-Christ-Str. 48 Martinsried / München Germany

Press Release: http://hugin.info/130295/R/1485502/420654.pdf

This announcement is distributed by Thomson Reuters on behalf of Thomson Reuters clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that:

(i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other applicable laws; and

(ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.

Source: MorphoSys AG via Thomson Reuters ONE

[HUG#1485502]