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Morphotek and Novo Nordisk to collaborate in developing High-Titer Cell Lines for Manufacturing of Therapeutic Antibodies

03 Dec 2004 - Morphotek, Inc. has entered into a multi-product Research Collaboration and License Agreement with Novo Nordisk for the use of Morphotek's proprietary MORPHODOMA(R) technology to develop high-affinity antibodies and high-titer antibody-producing mammalian cells for scaleable manufacturing. This marks the second agreement between the companies.
 
Under the terms of the non-exclusive, multi-year agreement, Morphotek will receive an upfront payment and funding to support research and development efforts to optimize up to four independent products. Morphotek will also receive a licensing fee and milestone payments upon the successful achievement of program goals and the advancement of the products through clinical development. Novo Nordisk will conduct the preclinical and clinical development and subsequent commercialization of all products.
 
Morphotek's MORPHODOMA(R) technology is a validated, proprietary process that rapidly evolves antibody producer cell lines to yield monoclonal antibodies with increased specificity and binding affinity to target antigens and/or to create sublines with enhanced titer yields for scaleable manufacturing. The technology is effective in evolving hybridomas and recombinant cell hosts which are commonly used to produce therapeutic antibodies.
 
"We are delighted by the opportunity to have our MORPHODOMA(R) technology serve as an operating system for Novo Nordisk's product development programs," stated Nicholas C. Nicolaides, President and Chief Executive Officer of Morphotek. "This exciting, multi-product collaboration underscores the value our platform provides biopharmaceutical companies by expediting the process of biological product development," added Philip M. Sass, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Morphotek.