German biotech firm MorphoSys, which develops and applies technologies for the production of synthetic antibodies, has announced what it claims are promising in vitro and in vivo preclinical data using their internal cancer antibody program, MOR202.

The fully-human antibodies that the company, based in Munich, has synthesised are reportedly able to kill cancer cells in vitro, with some of those antibodies also able to reduce or even halt tumour-cell growth in an animal model. The program is geared towards developing a treatment for multiple myeloma and other blood-cancer related diseases. Although there are treatments available for multiple myeloma, also known as plasmocytoma, there is much room for improvement. Currently, only 30 per cent of treated patients survive for more than five years, according to Morphosys.

The antibodies underlying the program were generated using the company's Human Combinatorial Antibody Library (HuCAL), which provides a made-to-measure service by optimizing fully-human antibodies to pre-defined specifications. The library contains 10bn possible antibodies, but the MOR202 antibodies specifically act on the target molecule CD38, which is overexpressed on the surface of certain cancer cells. Morphosys has submitted several US patent applications relating to anti-CD38 antibodies and their use.

In line with its corporate strategy, Morphosys plans to out-license the MOR202 program before the start of clinical development.

Bea Perks