Molecular Partners Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase 1 Trial of MP0310, a Novel Tumor-Localized Immunotherapy
Zurich-Schlieren, October 3, 2019. Molecular Partners AG (SIX: MOLN), a clinical-stage biotech company that is developing a new class of drugs known as DARPin® therapies, today announced that the first patient has been enrolled and dosed in a Phase 1 first-in-human study of MP0310 as a single agent in patients with advanced solid tumors. The trial, entitled MP0310-CP101, will evaluate the optimal dose range of MP0310 in preparation for planned combination studies with Amgen’s oncology pipeline products.
MP0310 is the first product candidate in Molecular Partners’ DARPin® immuno-oncology pipeline. It is designed to activate immune cells specifically in the tumor and not in the rest of the body, potentially delivering greater efficacy with fewer side effects. Preclinical studies of MP0310 have demonstrated immune T cell activation restricted to solid tumor tissues, and strong CD8 T cell activation and expansion in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, preclinical data show MP0310 avoids strong systemic activation of CD8 T cells and, therefore, has lower risk of the systemic side effects and toxicities.