MorphoSys says rheumatoid arthritis drug data good

FRANKFURT, Sept 2 (Reuters) - German biotechnology company MorphoSys AG (MORG.DE) said initial in-vitro data for MOR103, a drug it is developing to treat rheumatoid arthritis, have shown the medicine's ability to help block the disease's progression.

The data also showed that MOR103, which is being tested in a Phase 1 clinical trial, has seen a 5,000-fold increase in affinity of its antibodies, a measure of how well antibodies can find their targets.

"MorphoSys' in-vitro data suggest that relatively low doses of the drug might be sufficient for treatment. This could, in turn, mean less adverse effects and less production costs," Bank Vontobel analyst Markus Metzger said.

The company said it is planning to present pre-clinical data for MOR103 later this year at conferences in New York and San Diego. (Reporting by Christoph Steitz; editing by Rory Channing) (christoph.steitz@thomsonreuters.com, Reuters Messaging: christoph.steitz.reuters.com@reuters.net; +49 69 7565 1269))