Martinsried / Munich, Germany, Nov. 15, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX; OTC: MPSYY) announced today that its licensee Janssen Research & Development, LLC (Janssen) has presented results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical phase 2a study examining guselkumab in the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis. Guselkumab is a fully human anti-IL-23 monoclonal antibody discovered by Janssen utilizing the HuCAL antibody library technology licensed from MorphoSys.
According to a press release issued by Janssen today, a substantially higher percentage of patients receiving guselkumab achieved at least a 20 percent improvement in signs and symptoms of the disease (ACR 20) at week 24, the study's primary endpoint, compared with patients receiving placebo. In addition, according to Janssen's press release, data from the trial also showed statistically significant improvements in all secondary endpoints including physical function, psoriatic skin lesions and other health related outcomes in patients treated with guselkumab compared with patients receiving placebo.
Janssen will present the detailed data, the corresponding abstract of which can be seen here, in a late breaking session today, November 15, 2016, from 4:30pm-6pm (EST) (10:30pm-12:00am CET) at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR/ARHP) in Washington, DC/USA. The title of the abstract submitted by Janssen is: "Efficacy and Safety Results of Guselkumab, an Anti-IL23 Monoclonal Antibody, in Patients with Active Psoriatic Arthritis over 24 Weeks: A Phase 2a, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study."
"After Janssen already reported positive data for guselkumab from a phase 3 study in moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in October 2016, we are pleased that positive clinical phase 2a results with guselkumab have now been reported also in the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis", said Dr. Marlies Sproll, Chief Scientific Officer of MorphoSys AG.
Further detailed information about the clinical study results can be found in a press release issued by Janssen today.
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 100 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.
HuCAL®, HuCAL GOLD®, HuCAL PLATINUM®, CysDisplay®, RapMAT®, arYla®, Ylanthia®, 100 billion high potentials®, Slonomics®, Lanthio Pharma® and LanthioPep® are registered trademarks of the MorphoSys Group.
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
Anke Linnartz
Head of Corporate Communications & IR
Jochen Orlowski
Associate Director Corporate Communications & IR
Alexandra Goller
Senior Manager Corporate Communications & IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-404
investors@morphosys.com
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