Molecular Partners Presents Positive Preclinical Data for First Switch-DARPin Candidate MP0621 at EHA 2024
14 Junio 2024 - 12:00AM
Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR
Molecular Partners AG (SIX: MOLN; NASDAQ: MOLN), a clinical-stage
biotech company developing a new class of custom-built protein
drugs known as DARPin therapeutics, today announced preclinical
proof-of-concept data from MP0621, a multispecific cKit x CD16a x
CD47 Switch-DARPin program. The data validates the Switch-DARPin
concept in vivo and MP0621’s potential as a next-generation
therapeutic supporting hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
(HSCT), initially for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
patients. The data will be presented today in a poster session at
the European Hematology Association (EHA) 2024 Hybrid Congress
taking place June 13-16 in Madrid, Spain.
“We designed our Switch-DARPin platform to unlock undruggable
targets and enable safe use of powerful immune activators via
logic-gated and reversible immune activation,” said Anne Goubier,
Ph.D., SVP Research & Early Development. “MP0621 is our first
candidate in this series, with the aim to clear HSCs effectively
and safely, by targeting cKit, engaging innate immune cells via
CD16a, and blocking CD47 only on cKit+ cells. We’re thrilled by
these results, which validate our Switch-DARPin platform in vitro
and in vivo and pave the way for a new generation of conditionally
activated T cell engagers, with the potential to revolutionize
therapy in areas of unmet need, such as solid tumors”.
HSCT offers a potential cure for patients with AML and other
malignant and non-malignant diseases. However, the toxicity of
pre-HSCT conditioning often requires that it is carried out with
reduced intensity, increasing the likelihood that diseased cells
remain in the bone marrow and lead to relapse. Safer and more
efficacious treatments are needed to improve HSCT outcomes for more
patients with AML and other diseases requiring HSC transplant.
MP0621 is intended to maximize the therapeutic potential of HSCT
for AML patients, including those with poor cytogenetic risk
profile, to extend the access to potentially curative HSCT for more
patients, and to increase long term disease control post HSCT.
MP0621 is designed to induce eradication of HSCs while avoiding
the toxicity associated with current high-intensity conditioning
regimens. MP0621 engages natural killer cells and macrophages via
CD16a to selectively kill targeted cKit-positive cells. cKit is
critical for stem cell maintenance and renewal and thus an
attractive target to select for HSCs as well as leukemic stem cells
in AML. CD47 is widely expressed as “don’t-eat-me” signal and
prevents killing of cells, including HSCs/LSCs. Blocking CD47 can
enhance damage to bound stem cells; however systemic anti-CD47
blockers cause significant toxicity, highlighting the need for
conditional and targeted blockade of CD47.
The Switch-DARPin platform provides a logic-gated “on/off”
function (the “Switch”) to multispecific DARPin candidates leading
to target activation only in the presence of defined antigens. In
MP0621, the Switch-DARPin binds to either cellular cKit or to the
anti-CD47 DARPin binder. Upon MP0621 binding to cKit on cells, the
Switch-DARPin will unmask the anti-CD47 DARPin, which in turn will
bind CD47 and block the “don’t-eat-me” signal, leveraging the power
of CD47 inhibition without its associated toxicity to healthy
cells. The Company is presently conducting preclinical efficacy and
safety studies for MP0621 with data expected in H2 2024.
In the poster presented, preclinical studies demonstrate
that:
- MP0621 selectively blocks CD47 on cells expressing cKit
- Conditional blockade of CD47 enhances efficacy of cKit
targeting, with phagocytosis comparable to a combo of anti-cKit and
anti-CD47 monoclonal antibodies
- MP0621 depleted cKit+ cells in bone marrow of humanized mice
without affecting circulating immune cells
- PK profile of MP0621 is suitable for HSCT therapy in
humans
Poster details can be found below. The full poster will be made
available on Molecular Partners' website after the
presentation.
Title: C-KIT X CD16A X CD47 Switch-DARPin with
Conditional Blockade of CD47: A Next-generation Targeted
Conditioning for Hematopoietic Stem Cell
TransplantationSession Title: Stem Cell
Transplantation – ExperimentalAbstract Number for
Publication: P1294Poster Session Timing:
June 14, 2024; 6-7 pm CET
About Molecular Partners
AG Molecular Partners AG is a
clinical-stage biotech company pioneering the design and
development of DARPin therapeutics for medical challenges other
drug modalities cannot readily address. The Company has programs in
various stages of pre-clinical and clinical development, with
oncology as its main focus. Molecular Partners leverages the
advantages of DARPins to provide unique solutions to patients
through its proprietary programs as well as through partnerships
with leading pharmaceutical companies. Molecular Partners was
founded in 2004 and has offices in both Zurich, Switzerland and
Concord, MA, USA. For more information, visit
www.molecularpartners.com and find us on LinkedIn and Twitter/X
@MolecularPrtnrs.
For further details, please contact:Seth Lewis,
SVP Investor Relations & StrategyConcord, Massachusetts,
U.S.seth.lewis@molecularpartners.comTel: +1 781 420 2361
Laura Jeanbart, PhD, Head of Portfolio Management &
Communications Zurich-Schlieren,
Switzerlandlaura.jeanbart@molecularpartners.com Tel: +41 44 575 19
35
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