MorphoSys says Roche to start Phase I trial with antibody to treat Alzheimers

MUNICH (AFX) - MorphoSys AG said Roche Holding AG has filed all necessary applications to start a European Phase I clinical trial with its antibody to treat Alzheimers disease, triggering a clinical milestone payment from Roche to the Munich-based company. No further financial details were disclosed. The antibody is from MorphoSys' HuCAL antibody library. It targets abnormal build-ups of amyloid beta protein in cerebral tissue, which are typical of Alzheimer's patients, and is intended to help remove them. MorphoSys said the antibody has shown -- in pre-clinical tests -- a high affinity of binding to amyloid beta plaques and was able to bind specifically to amyloid plaques in human brain tissue samples taken from Alzheimers patients. The antibody was further tested in an animal model of Alzheimers disease and was shown to cross the blood-brain-barrier and to bind to amyloid beta plaques within the brain. It added that international research on Alzheimers sees the breakdown of amyloid beta formations as a promising starting point towards treatment and that removal of the accumulations has been linked to an increase in correct cognitive functioning.


http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=36596
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