Case Study: Novartis Pharma’s global licensing deal to develop & commercialise MOR106

MOR106 is an investigational, fully human, IgG1 monoclonal antibody directed against the target IL-17C that was generated in a collaboration between MorphoSys and Galapagos.

Brief about the deal:

• MorphoSys AG and Galapagos NV have entered into a worldwide, exclusive agreement with Novartis Pharma AG covering the development and commercialization of their joint programme MOR106.
• Under the terms of the agreement, the parties will cooperate to broaden the existing development plan for MOR106 in AtD significantly. Novartis will be exclusively holding all rights for commercialization of any products resulting from the agreement signed.
• Upon the signing of the agreement, all future research, development, manufacturing and commercialization costs for MOR106 will be borne by Novartis. This includes the ongoing phase 2 IGUANA trial in atopic dermatitis (AtD) patients as well as a planned Phase 1 study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a subcutaneous formulation of MOR106 in healthy volunteers and AtD patients. MorphoSys and Galapagos will conduct additional trials to support development of MOR106 in AtD. Under the terms of the agreement, Novartis will explore the potential of MOR106 in additional indications other than AtD.
• In addition to the funding of the current and future MOR106 programme by Novartis, MorphoSys and Galapagos will jointly receive an upfront payment of EUR 95 million (USD 111 million).
• Pending achievement of certain developmental, regulatory, commercial and sales-based milestones, MorphoSys and Galapagos would jointly be eligible to receive significant milestone payments, potentially amounting to up to approximately EUR 850 million (USD 1 billion), in addition to tiered royalties on net commercial sales in the range of up to low-teens to low-twenties. Under the terms of their agreement from 2008, Galapagos and MorphoSys will share all payments equally (50/50).
• The agreement between MorphoSys, Galapagos, and Novartis is subject to clearance by the US antitrust authorities under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, and will become effective as soon as this condition has been met.

About MOR106

MOR106 is an investigational fully human IgG1 monoclonal antibody designed to selectively target IL-17C, currently being developed for treatment of inflammatory diseases. MOR106 arises from the strategic discovery and co-development alliance between Galapagos and MorphoSys, in which both companies contributed their core technologies and expertise. Galapagos has provided the disease-related biology including cellular assays and targets discovered using its target discovery platform, specifically IL-17C for MOR106, and has performed the clinical development of MOR106. MorphoSys has contributed its Ylanthia antibody technology to generate fully human antibodies directed against the target and contributed full CMC development of this compound.