On December 6, 2018 Molecular Partners AG (SIX: MOLN), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering the use of DARPin therapeutics* to treat serious diseases, reported the continued progress of its pipeline of proprietary therapeutic product candidates in oncology and immuno-oncology, as well as in ophthalmology together with its partner Allergan (Press release, Molecular Partners, DEC 6, 2018, View Source [SID1234531925]).

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On its R&D Day in New York, entitled "Building Tomorrow’s Breakthroughs," the company elaborates on its refined development plans for its most advanced proprietary candidate MP0250 in multiple myeloma (MM). In particular, the company announces its intention to initiate a second phase 2 trial for MP0250 in MM. This complementary trial will recruit patients with relapsed or refractory MM who have failed at least two lines of therapy including a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory drug (IMiD) and in whom the most recent therapy was IMiD-based. Patients will be treated with MP0250 in combination with Pomalidomide and dexamethasone. The design of the initial phase 2 trial for MP0250 in MM will be updated to recruit patients with a proteasome inhibitor (PI) based regimen as the most recent therapy. Those patients continue to be dosed with MP0250 in combination with Velcade and dexamethasone.

Molecular Partners also presents additional preclinical data on MP0310, its most advanced multi-specific (FAP x 4-1BB) DARPin immuno-oncology compound, which is expected to move into the clinic in 2019. In addition, data on FAP x CD40, a second multi-specific preclinical DARPin therapeutic in immuno-oncology, will be presented.

"I am pleased to report on our progress in oncology and our efforts to build a sustainable pipeline of DARPin therapeutics," said Patrick Amstutz, Chief Executive Officer of Molecular Partners.

Pamela A. Trail, Chief Scientific Officer of the company, added: "Our unique DARPin designs have the potential to translate into novel therapeutics across the landscape of oncology. Going forward, we will focus on several key areas of therapeutic intervention which are in the sweet spot of our DARPin technology."

In addition to an overview of the Molecular Partners clinical and preclinical pipeline, the R&D Day will feature presentations by the following experts:

Dr. Robert Orlowski, Chairman, Ad Interim, Director of Myeloma, Professor of Medicine Departments of Lymphoma/Myeloma and Experimental Therapeutics, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Dr. Yehia Hashad, Vice President and Global Head of Clinical Development, Ophthalmology, Allergan
Logistics
The R&D Day for institutional investors, sell-side analysts, investment bankers, and business development professionals will take place at The Yale Club, 50 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York City, from 11:30 am – 2:30 pm EST. To RSVP email Susan A. Noonan at [email protected].

Attendees are invited to check at 11:30 am EST. The presentations will begin at 12:00 pm, followed by a Q&A session. Lunch will be served.

Audio webcast
A respective audio webcast will be accessible, both live and as a replay, on the investors section of the company’s website, along with the accompanying presentation slides.

Financial Calendar
November 1, 2018 – Q3 2018 Management Statement
December 6, 2018 – R&D Day in New York
February 7, 2019 – Publication of Full-year Results 2018 (unaudited)
March 15, 2019 – Expected Publication of Annual Report 2018
April 16, 2019 – Annual General Meeting
May 9, 2019 – Interim Management Statement Q1 2019
View Source

About the DARPin Difference
DARPin therapeutics are a new class of protein therapeutics opening an extra dimension of multi-specificity and multi-functionality. DARPin candidates are potent, specific, safe and very versatile. They can engage more than 5 targets at once, offering potential benefits over those offered by conventional monoclonal antibodies or other currently available protein therapeutics.
The DARPin technology is a fast and cost-effective drug discovery engine, producing drug candidates with ideal properties for development and very high production yields.

With their good safety profile, low immunogenicity and long half-life in the bloodstream and the eye, DARPin therapeutics have the potential to advance modern medicine and significantly improve the treatment of serious diseases, including cancer and sight-threatening disorders. Molecular Partners is partnering with Allergan to advance clinical programs in ophthalmology, and is advancing a proprietary pipeline of DARPin drug candidates in oncology and immuno-oncology. The most advanced global product candidate is abicipar, a molecule currently in phase 3, in partnership with Allergan. Several DARPin molecules for various ophthalmic indications are also in development. The most advanced DARPin therapeutic candidate wholly owned by Molecular Partners, MP0250, is in phase 2 clinical development for the treatment of solid tumors and hematological tumors. MP0274, the second-most advanced DARPin drug candidate owned by Molecular Partners, has broad anti-HER activity; it inhibits HER1, HER2 and HER3-mediated downstream signaling via Her2, leading to induction of apoptosis. MP0274 is currently in phase 1. Molecular Partners is also advancing a growing preclinical pipeline that features several immuno-oncological development programs. DARPin is a registered trademark owned by Molecular Partners AG