Cambridge Antibody - Re US Patent

RNS No 2772t
CAMBRIDGE ANTIBODY TECHNOLOGY GROUP PLC
27 April 1999

For Further Information Contact:
Cambridge Antibody Technology Group plc
Dr David Chiswell, Chief Executive Officer       Tel: [phone]
John Aston, Finance Director

HCC.De Facto
City/Financial, Nicola How
Scientific/Trade, Andrew Worsfold                Tel: [phone]
              
              
                                  US Patent                                   

Melbourn, UK - Cambridge Antibody Technology holds a granted US patent with
broad claims directed to human antibodies to human proteins isolated by phage
display and to methods for producing human antibodies (US 5,885,793).  This
patent was granted on 23 March 1999. 

CAT has been informed that MorphoSys AG, a German company, has filed a
complaint in the US District Court for the District of Columbia seeking a
declaration that MorphoSys is not infringing the above patent and that the
patent is invalid.  The complaint does not set out a factual basis as to why
MorphoSys believes it is not infringing this patent or why the patent should
be declared invalid.  CAT has been advised that there is no sound basis in US
Law for this complaint.

In September 1998, as previously announced, CAT initiated a patent
infringement action against MorphosSys in the District Court in Munich Germany
for infringement of two other patents granted in Europe claiming different
subject matter.  These patents, Winter II and McCafferty et al, were granted
in April 1994 and November 1996 respectively.  A hearing in respect of this
action is expected later this year.

Neither this US complaint nor the action in Germany in any way impacts on
CAT's freedom to operate its technology.  CAT is committed to enforcing its
patents where necessary.

END


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