MorphoSys and Heptares Therapeutics have signed a research deal to develop antibody therapeutics against G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs).
According to the deal, Heptares will produce stabilized receptors (StaRs) for MorphoSys proposed GPCR disease target set.
The Ylanthia antibody library will then be applied by MorphoSys to identify and develop antibody therapeutics targeting StaRs.
MorphoSys chief executive officer Dr. Simon Moroney said, "We believe that by combining Heptares' unique StaR platform for generating stable GPCRs as antigens with our antibody discovery technology, we will be able to unlock the immense potential of therapeutic antibodies against GPCRs."
MorphoSys can sublicense access to the targets along with therapeutic antibody candidates to third parties.
Under the deal, Heptares will earn upfront payment and research funding in addition to part of future sublicensing revenues produced by MorphoSys.
Agreement allows Heptares to develop and commercialize one MorphoSys created therapeutic antibody against a GPCR target chosen by Heptares, using Ylanthia.
MorphoSys is then entitled to earn license fees, milestones and royalties on any Ylanthia antibody developed by Heptares.
Heptares chief executive officer Malcolm Weir said, "By creating StaRs, we believe we have overcome a major challenge facing small molecule and biologics discovery efforts focused on GPCRs."