MorphoSys AG announced that its business unit AbD Serotec has significantly expanded its license agreement with MRC Technology (MRCT), the technology transfer arm of Great Britain's Medical Research Council (MRC).

The agreement, which provides AbD Serotec with access to a broad range of hybridoma cell lines as a source of research antibodies, is extended for a further five years, and includes additional products which will be implemented in AbD Serotec's offering. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

The Medical Research Council is a national organization dedicated to improving human health in the UK and abroad. The MRC has 40 Institutes, Units and Centres and supports research across the entire spectrum of medical sciences, in universities and hospitals through research grants, funded research training and MRC career awards. Hybridoma cells, which have been engineered by researchers of the MRC network to produce a desired research antibody in large amounts, are out-licensed by MRCT.

AbD Serotec is the research antibody division of MorphoSys, one of the world's leading antibody technology companies. AbD Serotec offers more than 10,000 antibodies and immunological reagents, custom monoclonal antibodies developed from the MorphoSys HuCAL library, and large and small scale antibody production and conjugation services.

"Our long-lasting relationship with the Medical Research Council as a source of research antibodies has led to a large number of innovative products for our costumers," commented Dr Simon Moroney, CEO of MorphoSys AG. "Sales on all products from this license agreement are of significant value for AbD Serotec, and to be able to continue this long-term relationship with one of the most influential research organizations in Great Britain is thus of significant value for the entire MorphoSys Group."

MorphoSys develops and applies innovative technologies for the production of synthetic antibodies, which accelerate drug discovery and target characterization.