Astellas Pharma, Inc. has entered into a license agreement with MorphoSys AG for the use of its HuCAL technology. Under the terms of the agreement, Astellas will have access to the HuCAL GOLD antibody library for use in its internal drug discovery programs. MorphoSys will receive an upfront payment and annual user fees for the duration of the agreement.

During the term of the agreement, Astellas will have access to the HuCAL GOLD library at its research site in Tsukuba, Japan and has the option to start antibody projects during the span of the agreement. Also, MorphoSys may use its HuCAL GOLD antibody library to generate novel HuCAL antibodies against targets provided by Astellas. Astellas will then be responsible for preclinical and clinical development of these compounds, as well as the marketing of resulting products. MorphoSys stands to receive research funding, plus licensing and milestone payments, as well as royalties on end-product sales. The agreement may extend as long as five years.

"Today's deal adds another representative of Japan's leading pharmaceutical companies to MorphoSys's roster of partners and increases at the same time our market share among the 20 largest drug makers worldwide,'' commented Dr. Simon Moroney, chief executive officer of MorphoSys. "This new therapeutic partnership with Astellas once again shows the potential for innovative technology such as our HuCAL GOLD antibody library in Japan -- a market we set out to explore just some 24 months ago.''

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