The pre-development agreement provides MorphoSys with an option to enter into a formal co-development for the respective program with Novartis.
MorphoSys and Novartis entered into a strategic collaboration in 2007.
Under the agreement, MorphoSys has the potential for several co-development options which enable the company to participate in the development of a selection of projects through cost and profit sharing with financial participation reflecting its level of investment in the respective programs.
MorphoSys chief scientific officer Marlies Sproll said that the options on pre-development with Novartis are an important contribution to proprietary development activities.
"For the second time within this co-operation, we have chosen the opportunity to jointly develop an antibody candidate against a target involved in inflammatory conditions, one of our core development areas," Sproll said.