I-Mab, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to the discovery, development, and commercialisation of novel biologics, announced two assets the company has licensed from partner MorphoSys, felzartamab (also known as TJ202/MOR202) and TJ210 (also known as MOR210), are advancing globally through new license agreements.

MorphoSys and Human Immunology Biosciences, Inc. (HIBio), a biotechnology company focused on developing precision medicines for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, backed by ARCH Venture Partners and Monograph Capital, announced that the companies have entered into an equity participation agreement and license agreements to allow HIBio to develop and commercialise MorphoSys' felzartamab, a CD38 antibody, and TJ210, a C5aR1 antibody, outside of Greater China. Currently, I-Mab is developing and commercializing felzartamab in Greater China and TJ210 in Greater China and South Korea.

Under the terms of the new agreements, HIBio will obtain exclusive rights to develop and commercialise felzartamab and TJ210 across all indications worldwide, excluding Greater China for felzartamab and Greater China and South Korea for TJ210.

"We have made significant progress in the development of felzartamab towards registration in China and we have brought TJ210 to the clinic in the United States. We are excited and look forward to working together with MorphoSys and HIBio to advance clinical development and commercialization of felzartamab and TJ210," said Dr Andrew Zhu, President of I-Mab. "This brings us one step further in providing these innovative investigational medicines to China and other countries as soon as possible to benefit more patients."

Based on a licensing agreement between MorphoSys and I-Mab signed in November 2017, I-Mab owns the exclusive rights for the development and commercialisation of felzartamab in Greater China. MorphoSys and I-Mab entered into an exclusive strategic collaboration and licensing agreement to develop and commercialise TJ210 in November 2018. Under the terms of the agreement, I-Mab obtained exclusive rights to develop and commercialise TJ210 in Greater China and South Korea and share certain rights when I-Mab completes pre-agreed clinical milestones in the U.S. With the productive partnership with MorphoSys, I-Mab has completed felzartamab registrational trial for third-line multiple myeloma (MM) and advanced the Phase 3 trial for second-line MM in China. I-Mab is currently conducting Phase 1 clinical trial in US for TJ210 in oncology indications.