MorphoSys files registration for ADS offering

Experts expect MorphoSys to raise up to US$150m in the form of ADS at Nasdaq. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Leerink Partners LLC, are acting as lead book-running managers, and Berenberg Capital Markets, LLC and JMP Securities LLC are acting as co-managers for the proposed ADS offering.

The Registration Statement, however, has not yet become effective. Analysts expect MorphoSys most advanced proprietary programme, MOR208 (previously Xmab5574), to reach the market within the next two years. The FC-optimised CD19 antibody, which is developed in relapsed or refractory blood cancer DLBCL in patients ineligible for high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation, boosts antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP). It has received FDA breakthrough therapy designation in this indication but is expected to get label extension in other B cell leukemias later on.

In addition, the antibody specialist has a lot of partnered programmes under clinical development and a partnered programme on the market.