MorphoSys and Melbourne University to collaborate on rheumatoid arthritis antibody development

German biotech MorphoSys and the University of Melbourne are to investigate new therapeutic applications for MorphoSys's MOR103 programme.

MOR103, a HuCAL antibody against human GM-CSF (granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor), is currently in development for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The two companies will focus on therapeutic areas in which GM-CSF has recently been implicated in unpublished work by researchers at the University of Melbourne, Australia.

Under the terms of the agreement, MorphoSys will fund research activities at the University of Melbourne in multiple new indications. The University will receive an upfront payment and be entitled to research funding, clinical milestone and royalty payments. Further financial details were not disclosed.

"The University of Melbourne, and in particular the research group of Professor John Hamilton, has long been at the cutting edge of research on GM-CSF. We are excited to be able to deepen our relationship with MorphoSys and help speed the transition of these laboratory insights into clinical applications for the benefit of patients," said Dr Charlie Day, ceo of Melbourne Ventures, the technology commercialisation company for the University of Melbourne.

"We look forward to working closely with researchers at the University of Melbourne to explore the potential of targeting GM-CSF in these additional indications, and expand further the patent position around inhibitors of GM-CSF," added Dr Arndt Schottelius, chief development officer at MorphoSys. "Meanwhile, development of our anti-GM-CSF antibody MOR103 in RA continues according to plan.".