Martinsreid/Munich, Germany and Mechelen, Belgium; 23 July 2014 - MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX; OTC: MPSYY) and Galapagos NV (Euronext: GLPG; OTC: GLPYY) announced today that the first program from their strategic alliance has advanced into preclinical development. MOR106 was realized based on a novel Galapagos target and MorphoSys' next-generation antibody library Ylanthia and will now be jointly developed in inflammatory diseases.
"It is gratifying that the first development program from our alliance with Galapagos has entered the preclinical development stage. The novel mode of action for MOR106 remains undisclosed. Furthermore, we are applying Ylanthia in a growing number of existing and new alliances and an increasing proportion of our pipeline is based on this next-generation platform," commented Dr. Marlies Sproll, Chief Scientific Officer of MorphoSys AG.
"Our SilenceSelect target discovery platform delivered the novel target against which this antibody is directed. MOR106 is the first antibody in the pipeline of Galapagos, and we are excited to develop this program further in close collaboration with our friends at MorphoSys," commented Onno van de Stolpe, CEO of Galapagos.
MOR106 arises from the alliance initiated by Galapagos and MorphoSys in 2008, in which both companies contribute their core technologies and expertise. Galapagos provides the disease-related biology including the target and cellular assays. The targets are discovered using Galapagos' SilenceSelect adenoviral target discovery platform. MorphoSys contributes its Ylanthia antibody technology to generate fully human antibodies directed against the target. Galapagos and MorphoSys will continue to share equally the research and development costs, as well as all future revenues.
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 80 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.
About Galapagos
Galapagos (Euronext: GLPG; OTC: GLPYY) is specialized in novel modes-of-action, with a large pipeline comprising five Phase 2 studies (two led by GSK), two Phase 1 studies, four pre-clinical, and 20 discovery small-molecule and antibody programs in cystic fibrosis, inflammation, antibiotics, metabolic disease, and other indications. In the field of inflammation, AbbVie and Galapagos signed a worldwide license agreement whereby AbbVie will be responsible for further development and commercialization of GLPG0634 after Phase 2B. GLPG0634 is an orally-available, selective inhibitor of JAK1 for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and potentially other inflammatory diseases, currently in Phase 2B studies in RA and in Phase 2 in Crohn's disease. Galapagos has another selective JAK1 inhibitor in Phase 2 in ulcerative colitis and psoriasis, GSK2586184 (formerly GLPG0778, in-licensed by GlaxoSmithKline in 2012). GLPG0974 is the first inhibitor of FFA2 to be evaluated clinically for the treatment of IBD; this program has completed a Proof-of-Concept Phase 2 study. GLPG1205 is a first-in-class molecule that targets inflammatory disorders and has completed Phase 1. GLPG1690 is a first-in-class compound that targets pulmonary diseases and is currently in a Phase 1 study. AbbVie and Galapagos signed an agreement in CF whereby they work collaboratively to develop and commercialize oral drugs that address two mutations in the CFTR gene, the G551D and F508del mutation. Potentiator GLPG1837 is at the pre-clinical candidate stage. The Galapagos Group, including fee-for-service subsidiary Fidelta, has around 400 employees, operating from its Mechelen, Belgium headquarters and facilities in The Netherlands, France, and Croatia. Further information at: www.glpg.com
For more information, please contact:
| MorphoSys AG | Galapagos NV |
| Dr. Claudia Gutjahr-Löser Head of Corporate Communications & IR Mario Brkulj Associate Director Corporate Communications & IR Alexandra Goller Specialist Corporate Communications & IR Jessica Rush Specialist Corporate Communications & IR Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-404 investors@morphosys.com | Elizabeth Goodwin, Head of Corporate Communications & IR Tel. +31 6 2291 6240 ir@glpg.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.
SilenceSelect® is a registered trademark of Galapagos NV
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.
This release may contain forward-looking statements of Galapagos NV, including, without limitation, statements containing the words "believes," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will," "could," "stands to," and "continues," as well as similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which might cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Galapagos, or industry results, to be materially different from any historic or future results, financial conditions, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Given these uncertainties, the reader is advised not to place any undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of publication of this document. Galapagos expressly disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements in this document to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, unless required by law or regulation.