AbD Serotec and FIND Sign Agreement to Develop Temperature Stable Antibodies for In Vitro Diagnostics

MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX) announced
today that its research and diagnostic antibody segment AbD Serotec
has initiated a research collaboration with FIND (Foundation for
Innovative New Diagnostics), a Swiss foundation that develops,
evaluates and accelerates the implementation of new diagnostic tools
for poverty-related diseases such as TB, malaria and sleeping
sickness. The goal of the research alliance is to establish a series
of heat-stable HuCAL-based antibodies as key components of novel
diagnostic tests that are robust in tropical climates. Using
MorphoSys's proprietary HuCAL technology, AbD Serotec will identify
heat-stable fully human antibodies specific for rapid diagnostic test
applications for parasite detection. Financial details of the
agreement were not disclosed.

Currently, rapid diagnostic test applications can allow detection of
parasite antigens in a finger prick blood sample. However, most
commercial diagnostic tests are developed for storage and use at
25-30ºC. High disease burden countries usually have higher ambient
temperatures, which can lead to test degradation especially when
taking into account the need for delivery to relatively remote
locations in the developing world. Thus, temperature stability and
prolonged shelf-life of diagnostic kits are critical factors for
improving infectious disease control.

Under the terms of the agreement, FIND receives the rights for the
commercial use of heat-stable HuCAL-derived antibodies for in vitro
diagnostics. AbD Serotec will participate in sales of diagnostic
tests using such antibodies in industrialized countries. If
concluded successfully, the collaboration could be expanded to cover
other disease areas of relevance for FIND's objectives.

"Partnerships such as this, that bring together the private and
public sectors, provide synergies which allow knowledge of diseases
in their endemic settings to directly influence the selection and
development of appropriate technologies for poverty-related
diseases," says Dr Giorgio Roscigno, FIND CEO. "We are very excited
by our collaboration with AbD Serotec and the potential of
introducing cutting-edge technologies in high disease burden
countries. This can only lead to a more rapid impact on disease
management in the field, where conditions are the most problematic.
Although FIND is currently focused on diagnostic platforms for TB,
malaria and sleeping sickness, numerous other infectious diseases may
be diagnosed in the future using the same technological platforms."

"We are very pleased to be able to establish a co-operation with FIND
for the development of antibodies enabling the diagnostic industry to
bring the much needed next generation diagnostic tools to the
market. With infectious diseases spreading into new regions
including many industrialized nations, an improved diagnostic test
will not only help to prevent further spread of the disease in the
developing world, it may represent also a significant commercial
opportunity for AbD Serotec and MorphoSys in future," commented
Dieter Feger, Senior Vice President and Head of MorphoSys's AbD
Serotec unit. "We are looking forward to combining our expertise in
the antibody development space with FIND's disease knowledge and
know-how in high disease burden countries. Our unique and fully in
vitro based HuCAL technology allows us to actively direct the process
of antibody generation to meet the needs of the project."

About FIND
FIND, based in Geneva, Switzerland, is a not-for-profit Swiss
foundation whose mission is to drive the development and
implementation of accurate and affordable diagnostic tests that can
be used as near as possible to where patients first seek care. FIND's
disease portfolio currently includes tuberculosis, malaria and human
African trypanosomiasis and donors are the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation, the European Union, the Government of the Netherlands,
UNITAID, Irish Aid and other institutions and private donors. FIND is
ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 13485:2003 certified. For further information
please visit http://www.finddiagnostics.org/

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, within which it plans to have
eight active programs by the end of 2009. Its most advanced program
is MOR103, a first-in-class, fully human antibody against GM-CSF.
MorphoSys expects to commence a Phase Ib/IIa trial of this antibody
in rheumatoid arthritis patients in the second half of 2009. 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® and RapMAT® are registered
trademarks 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.

For more information, please contact MorphoSys AG:
Dr. Claudia Gutjahr-Löser
Head of Corporate Communications & IR
Phone: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-122
claudia.gutjahr-loeser@morphosys.com

Mario Brkulj
Senior Manager Corporate Communications & IR
Phone: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-454
mario.brkulj@morphosys.com

Jessica Kulpi
Specialist Corporate Communications & IR
Phone: +49 (0) 89 899 27 332
jessica.kulpi@morphosys.com

This announcement was originally distributed by Hugin. The issuer is
solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Copyright © Hugin AS 2009. All rights reserved.