Molecular Partners Expands Its Pipeline of Radio-DARPin Therapeutics

(CONNECT) Molecular Partners develops radioactively labeled therapeutics based on its proprietary DARPin technology. DARPins (Designed Ankyrin Repeat Proteins) are artificial proteins that can recognize and bind antigens. While the first drug candidates in the Radio-DARPin (RDT) therapeutic class are already in various stages of development, the Schlieren-based company has now announced in a press release that it will expand its pipeline in this area. As such, two Investigational New Drug (IND) applications are planned for the coming year.

A Phase 1/2a clinical trial is currently underway for the drug candidate MP0712, involving patients with various types of cancer. For the second RDT drug candidate, MP0726, first-in-human imaging is scheduled to begin in the second half of the year. MP0726 targets the mestothelin gene, which is associated with various types of cancer.

“We look forward to the first clinical data on MP0712 and to advancing our next Radio-DARPin candidates to their first human imaging studies in the second half of the year,” CEO Patrick Amstutz is quoted as saying in the press release.

Molecular Partners, based in the Bio-Technopark Schlieren-Zurich, was founded in 2004 by researchers from the University of Zurich (UZH). ce/jh