Molecular Partners, a clinical-stage biotech company developing a new class of custom-built protein drugs known as DARPin therapeutics, announced the strengthening of a previously announced co-development agreement with Orano Med, a clinical-stage radiopharmaceutical company developing targeted alpha therapies with lead-212 (212Pb), where both companies will develop and market 212Pb-based Radio-DARPin Therapeutics for the treatment of cancer.
This revision builds on the original agreement signed in January 2024, under which both companies agreed to co-develop Radio-DARPin Therapeutics. For the first program, MP0712, a DLL3-targeting Radio-DARPin, Molecular Partners holds the commercialization rights. The amended agreement now targets four programs, with each company holding the commercialization rights to two of these programs. Both companies anticipate initiating first-in-human studies for MP0712, pending regulatory clearance, in 2025. Molecular Partners will hold the second program’s commercialization rights, and Orano Med will have the rights to develop and commercialize programs three and four.
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“The continued progress and strengthening of our collaboration with our partner Orano Med is a strong testament not only to the DARPin platform, but also to the strong teamwork between our companies. Behind DLL3, slated to go into clinical development in 2025, we are building a strong portfolio of candidates,” said Patrick Amstutz, Ph.D., CEO of Molecular Partners.
Molecular Partners expects no immediate impact on its financial forecast for the fiscal year 2024 from the expansion of the co-development agreement and maintains its funding guidance into 2027. Cash and cash equivalents (including short-term time deposits) as of September 30, 2024, are currently estimated at approximately CHF 140 million (unaudited).
DARPin (Designed Ankyrin Repeat Protein) therapeutics are a new class of custom-built protein drugs based on natural binding proteins that open new dimensions of multi-functionality and multi-target specificity in drug design. The flexible architecture, intrinsic potential for high affinity and specificity, small size and high stability of DARPins offer benefits to drug design over other currently available protein-based therapeutics.
SOURCE: GlobeNewswire