Molecular Partners Signs Agreement with Orano Med to Co-Develop 212Pb-Based Radio-DARPin Therapeutics
Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Molecular Partners has strengthened its co-development agreement with Orano Med.
DARPin (Designed Ankyrin Repeat Protein) therapeutics represent a novel class of custom-engineered protein drugs. These therapeutics are designed to provide enhanced multi-functionality and target specificity in drug design.
With their flexible structure, high stability, and potential for high affinity, DARPin therapeutics offer significant advantages over other protein-based drugs. The platform enables rapid drug discovery, producing candidates with optimised properties and high production yields.
DARPin drugs have been validated in clinical trials across various therapeutic areas and have progressed to advanced development stages.
Targeted alpha therapy combines the precision of biological molecules to specifically target cancer cells with the potent cell-killing properties of alpha-emitting radioisotopes like lead-212.
The alpha particles generated through this process cause irreparable damage to cancer cells by inducing double-strand DNA breaks, while minimising harm to nearby healthy cells. Alpha emitters are considered one of the most effective components for targeted cancer therapies.
This partnership focuses on the development and marketing of 212Pb-based Radio-DARPin Therapeutics for cancer treatment.
The enhanced agreement builds upon the original collaboration established in January 2024, which aimed to co-develop Radio-DARPin Therapeutics.
Initially, the companies agreed to work on the development of MP0712, a DLL3-targeting Radio-DARPin, for which Molecular Partners retains the commercialisation rights. Under the revised terms, the collaboration will now include four programmes.
Each company will hold the commercialisation rights to two of these. The first-in-human trials for MP0712 are expected to commence in 2025, pending regulatory approval.
The expansion of the agreement will not affect Molecular Partners’ financial outlook for 2024, and the company remains confident in its funding guidance through to 2027.
As of 30 September 2024, its cash reserves, including short-term deposits, are estimated at around CHF 140 million.
Source: molecularpartners.com
