Zurich-Schlieren, January 08, 2018. Molecular Partners AG (ticker: MOLN), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of drugs known as DARPin® therapies*, today announced initial safety and efficacy data from its ongoing phase 2 study of MP0250 in multiple myeloma (MM).

Eight patients have been treated in the first cohort of 8 mg/kg MP0250 and were included in the safety analysis set. No dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) have been reported to date. Most frequent adverse events were Grade 1 and 2, except two Grade 3 adverse events (thrombocytopenia and transitory liver enzyme elevation) observed in two patients.

Of seven response evaluable patients receiving MP0250 in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone, three patients showed partial response (PR) and one patient minimal response (MR). Responses were analyzed according to the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) criteria.

“We are very pleased with the good initial safety and tolerability data we observed in the first eight patients treated with MP0250 in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone. Furthermore, we see promising responses within this first dose cohort. We look forward to evaluating additional patients at higher doses of MP0250 with bortezomib and dexamethasone to treat resistant multiple myeloma patients,” commented Dr. Andreas Harstrick, Chief Medical Officer at Molecular Partners.

MP0250 is a proprietary DARPin® drug candidate neutralizing VEGF and HGF and thus blocking key escape pathways and resistance. Increases in VEGF and HGF are associated with disease progression in multiple myeloma and have been linked to poor prognosis: they are known to be able to stimulate neovascularization, bone destruction, and myeloma proliferation, migration, and adhesion in the bone marrow. MP0250 shows activity in many preclinical tumor models including in multiple myeloma models in which it enhances the effects of bortezomib on inhibition of M protein production and bone lysis and reduces invasion of tumor cells. MP0250 has shown a favorable safety profile in a phase 1 clinical study in 45 patients in advanced solid tumors.

In the phase 2 MM study, the safety and efficacy of MP0250 is examined in combination with bortezomib (Velcade®) and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who have failed standard therapies. The study is performed in Germany, Poland and Italy. A total of 40 patients are planned to be treated, 12 patients in the dose-escalation phase (Part 1) to establish a safe dose, and an additional 28 patients in the dose-expansion phase (Part 2) resulting in a total of 34 patients at the target dose. Additional safety and efficacy data are expected by the end of 2018.

About the DARPin® Difference

DARPin® therapeutics are a new class of protein therapeutics that open an extra dimension of multi-specificity and multi-functionality. DARPin® candidates are potent, specific, safe and very versatile. They can engage more than five targets at once, offering potential benefits over those provided 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® therapies 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. 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 systemic DARPin® molecule, MP0250, is in a clinical POC study in multiple myeloma. In addition, Molecular Partners will evaluate MP0250 for the treatment of solid tumors in a phase 1b/2 trial in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MP0274, the company’s second-most advanced DARPin® drug candidate in oncology, has entered into phase 1 clinical development. With its broad anti-HER activity, MP0274 inhibits HER1-, HER2-, and HER3-mediated downstream signaling via Her2, leading to induction of apoptosis. 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.

About Molecular Partners AG

Molecular Partners AG is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that is developing a new class of therapies known as DARPin® therapies. With a management team that includes many of the company’s founding scientists, Molecular Partners continues to attract talented individuals who share a passion for developing breakthrough medicines for serious diseases. Molecular Partners has compounds in various stages of clinical and preclinical development and several more in the research stage, with a current focus on ophthalmology and oncology. The company establishes research and development partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies and is backed by established biotech investors.

For more information regarding Molecular Partners AG, go to: www.molecularpartners.com.

*DARPin® is a registered trademark owned by Molecular Partners AG.

Financial Calendar

• February 8, 2018 – Publication of Full-year Results 2017 (unaudited)
• March 16, 2018 – Expected Publication of 2017 Annual Report
• April 18, 2018 – Annual General Meeting

http://investors.molecularpartners.com/financial-calendar-and-events/​

For further details, please contact:

Dr. Patrick Amstutz, CEO
patrick.amstutz@molecularpartners.com
Tel: +41 (0) 44 755 77 00

Andreas.Emmenegger, CFO
andreas.emmenegger@molecularpartners.com
Tel: +41 (0) 44 755 77 00

Rolf Schläpfer
Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors
rolf.schlaepfer@konsulenten.ch
Tel: +41 (0) 43 344 42 42

Susan A. Noonan
S.A. Noonan Communications, LLC
susan@sanoonan.com
Tel: +1 212 966 3650

Disclaimer

This communication does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for or purchase any securities of Molecular Partners AG. This publication may contain certain forward-looking statements and assessments or intentions concerning the company and its business. Such statements involve certain risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Readers should therefore not place reliance on these statements, particularly not in connection with any contract or investment decision. The company disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, assessments or intentions.

Zurich-Schlieren, January 04, 2018. Molecular Partners AG (SIX: MOLN), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of drugs known as DARPin® therapies, today announced that it will present at the 36th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on Wednesday, 10 January, 2018 at 8:30 AM Pacific Standard Time (11:30 AM Eastern Time; 5:30 PM CET).
The presentation, followed by a Q&A session, will be hosted by Dr. Patrick Amstutz, CEO of Molecular Partners.

The presentation will be webcast live and can be accessed on the day via this link. A copy of the presentation handout as well as a replay of the webcast will be made available on the company’s website www.molecularpartners.com under the Investors section. The replay will be available for 30 days following the presentation.

 

About Molecular Partners AG

Molecular Partners AG is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that is developing a new class of therapies known as DARPin® therapies. With a management team that includes many of the founding scientists, the company continues to attract talented individuals who share the passion to develop breakthrough medicines for serious diseases. Molecular Partners has compounds in various stages of clinical and preclinical development and several more in the research stage, with a current focus on ophthalmology and oncology. The company establishes research and development partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies and is backed by established biotech investors.

For more information regarding Molecular Partners AG, go to: www.molecularpartners.com.

For further details, please contact:

Dr. Patrick Amstutz, CEO
patrick.amstutz@molecularpartners.com
Tel: +41 (0) 44 755 77 00

Andreas.Emmenegger, CFO
andreas.emmenegger@molecularpartners.com
Tel: +41 (0) 44 755 77 00

Rolf Schläpfer
Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors
rolf.schlaepfer@konsulenten.ch
Tel: +41 (0) 43 344 42 42

Susan A. Noonan
S.A. Noonan Communications, LLC
susan@sanoonan.com
Tel: +1 212 966 3650

 

Zurich-Schlieren, January 03, 2018. Molecular Partners AG (SIX: MOLN), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of drugs known as DARPin® therapies,today announced that Allergan has exercised two options to develop and commercialize DARPin® product candidates from its 2012 discovery alliance agreement with Molecular Partners. Upon receipt of approval under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, Molecular Partners will grant Allergan an exclusive license to the selected DARPin® molecules for use in ophthalmology.

Molecular Partners and Allergan entered into a broad discovery alliance in ophthalmology in 2012 aiming to develop novel multi-DARPin® molecules for diseases with high unmet medical need. This alliance broadened the initial collaboration on abicipar, which is now in phase 3 development in wet AMD.

All amounts payable under these two option exercises are included in the aggregate milestone payments and the tiered royalty payments previously disclosed in our July 21, 2015 press release. Molecular Partners is entitled to certain success based development, regulatory and sales milestone payments aggregating up to USD 640 million, as well as tiered royalty payments (up to low double digit percentage range) on any future product sales. Allergan will be responsible for all future development costs.

“The DARPin® platform is a key part of our strategy to develop highly differentiated drugs in ophthalmology,” said David Nicholson, Chief R&D Officer, Allergan. “Our partnership with Molecular Partners continues to deliver such differentiated drug candidates and by exercising these options we will obtain exclusive rights to develop and commercialize these molecules and expand our efforts to address important diseases in ophthalmology. “

“We are excited to support our long-standing partner Allergan in advancing multi-DARPin® product candidates. This is an important showcase of the value of the DARPin® platform to deliver potential patient benefit in ophthalmology in addition to the work Molecular Partners is doing in oncology. I would like to thank the teams on both sides of the collaboration for their efforts and the achievement of this important milestone,” commented Patrick Amstutz, CEO of Molecular Partners.

 

About abicipar

Abicipar is a long-acting mono-DARPin® drug candidate that inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and is currently under investigation for the treatment of two major causes of blindness worldwide:
neovascular, or wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME). Abicipar has the potential to require less frequent injections into the eye than the current anti-VEGF standards of care, while providing equal or better improvements in vision, both seen as mayor patient benefits in these indications. Molecular Partners granted an exclusive license to Allergan for Abicipar in May 2011.

 

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 in 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® therapies 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. 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 systemic DARPin® molecule, MP0250, is in Phase 1 clinical development for the treatment of solid tumors and has entered into Phase 2 development for hematological tumors. In addition, Molecular Partners intends to further evaluate MP0250 for solid tumors in a phase 1b/2 trial for EGFR-mutated NSCLC. MP0274, the second-most advanced DARPin® drug candidate in oncology, has broad anti-HER activity; it inhibits HER1, HER2 and HER3-mediated downstream signaling via Her2, leading to induction of apoptosis. MP0274 has just moved into 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.

 

About Molecular Partners AG

Molecular Partners AG is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that is developing a new class of therapies known as DARPin® therapies. With a management team that includes many of the founding scientists, the company continues to attract talented individuals who share the passion to develop breakthrough medicines for serious diseases. Molecular Partners has compounds in various stages of clinical and preclinical development and several more in the research stage, with a current focus on ophthalmology and oncology. The company establishes research and development partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies and is backed by established biotech investors.

For more information regarding Molecular Partners AG, go to: www.molecularpartners.com.

For further details, please contact:

Dr. Patrick Amstutz, CEO
patrick.amstutz@molecularpartners.com
Tel: +41 (0) 44 755 77 00

Andreas.Emmenegger, CFO
andreas.emmenegger@molecularpartners.com
Tel: +41 (0) 44 755 77 00

Rolf Schläpfer
Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors
rolf.schlaepfer@konsulenten.ch
Tel: +41 (0) 43 344 42 42

Susan A. Noonan
S.A. Noonan Communications, LLC
susan@sanoonan.com
Tel: +1 212 966 3650

Disclaimer

This communication does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for or purchase any securities of Molecular Partners AG. This publication may contain certain forward-looking statements and assessments or intentions concerning the company and its business. Such statements involve certain risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Readers should therefore not place reliance on these statements, particularly not in connection with any contract or investment decision. The company disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, assessments or intentions.

• Company begins development of MP0310, first DARPin® therapy in early-stage immuno-oncology portfolio

• R&D Update and webcast today highlights continued progress in pipeline in oncology and ophthalmology

Zurich-Schlieren, November 09, 2017. Molecular Partners AG (SIX: MOLN), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of drugs known as DARPin® therapies,today announces continued progress with its robust pipeline of therapeutic candidates in oncology and ophthalmology, as well as expansion of its early-stage immuno-oncology portfolio. Today’s R&D update in New York, entitled “The DARPin® Difference – Offering Patients a New Dimension of Protein Therapeutics”, will feature a series of presentations highlighting the scientific rationale and the potential clinical impact of the DARPin® approach, as well as Molecular Partners’ continued forward integration and evolution towards becoming a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company.

Today’s event for institutional investors, sell-side analysts, investment bankers, and business development professionals will take place in the Cosmopolitan Suite at the Four Seasons New York, 57 East 57^th Street, from 12.00-2.30 pm EST. For those who are unable to attend in person, a live webcast and replay will be accessible.

“A growing body of scientific and clinical evidence suggests that our DARPin® drug discovery platform is a powerful and practical engine for developing medicines that make a tangible difference in the lives of patients, physicians and society,” commented Patrick Amstutz, CEO of Molecular Partners. “With a late-stage asset in ophthalmology, continued progress with two key oncology clinical development programs, and the emergence of MP0310, the first early-stage immuno-oncology compound originating from our I/O DARPin® toolbox, we combine the scientific strength of our DARPin® platform with a strong financial position.”

In addition to an overview of the Molecular Partners clinical and pre-clinical pipeline, the R&D update event will feature presentations by the following medical and scientific experts:

• Prof. Angelo Vacca, MD, Chief of Internal Medicine, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy: Multiple Myeloma (MM)
• Kathryn A. Gold, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of California San Diego Moores Cancer Center: Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
• Richard Baird, PhD, Academic Consultant in Experimental Cancer Therapeutics, University of Cambridge, UK: HER2+ Breast Cancers
• Baldo Scassellati Sforzolini, MD, PhD, MBA, Senior Vice President, Clinical Development, Allergan: abicipar, in wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD)

Attendees are invited to check in to today’s R&D update at 11:30 am EST. The presentations will begin at 12:15 pm, followed by a Q&A session. Lunch will be served. The live webcast and replay will be accessible here.

Financial Calendar

• February 8, 2018 – Publication of Full-year Results 2017 (unaudited)
• March 16, 2018 – Expected Publication of 2017 Annual Report
• April 18, 2018 – Annual General Meeting

http://investors.molecularpartners.com/financial-calendar-and-events/

About the DARPin® Difference

DARPin® therapeutics are a new class of protein therapeutics that open an extra dimension of multi-specificity and multi-functionality. DARPin® candidates are potent, specific, safe and very versatile. They can engage more than five targets at once, offering potential benefits over those provided 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® therapies 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. 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 systemic DARPin® molecule, MP0250, is in a clinical POC study in multiple myeloma. In addition, Molecular Partners will evaluate MP0250 for the treatment of solid tumors in a phase 1b/2 trial in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MP0274, the company’s second-most advanced DARPin® drug candidate in oncology, has entered into phase 1 clinical development. With its broad anti-HER activity, MP0274 inhibits HER1-, HER2-, and HER3-mediated downstream signaling via Her2, leading to induction of apoptosis. 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.

About Molecular Partners AG

Molecular Partners AG is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that is developing a new class of therapies known as DARPin® therapies. With a management team that includes many of the company’s founding scientists, Molecular Partners continues to attract talented individuals who share a passion for developing breakthrough medicines for serious diseases. Molecular Partners has compounds in various stages of clinical and preclinical development and several more in the research stage, with a current focus on ophthalmology and oncology. The company establishes research and development partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies and is backed by established biotech investors.

For more information regarding Molecular Partners AG, go to: www.molecularpartners.com.

For further details, please contact:

Dr. Patrick Amstutz, CEO
patrick.amstutz@molecularpartners.com
Tel: +41 (0) 44 755 77 00

Andreas.Emmenegger, CFO
andreas.emmenegger@molecularpartners.com
Tel: +41 (0) 44 755 77 00

Rolf Schläpfer
Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors
rolf.schlaepfer@konsulenten.ch
Tel: +41 (0) 43 344 42 42

Susan A. Noonan
S.A. Noonan Communications, LLC
susan@sanoonan.com
Tel: +1 212 966 3650

Disclaimer

This communication does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for or purchase any securities of Molecular Partners AG. This publication may contain certain forward-looking statements and assessments or intentions concerning the company and its business. Such statements involve certain risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Readers should therefore not place reliance on these statements, particularly not in connection with any contract or investment decision. The company disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, assessments or intentions.

Zurich-Schlieren, October 31, 2017. At today’s Extraordinary General Meeting of Molecular Partners (SIX: MOLN), the shareholders of the company approved the election of William (Bill) Burns, former CEO of Roche Pharmaceuticals, and Patrick Amstutz, CEO of Molecular Partners, as new members of the Board of Directors with large majorities.

The Board of Directors has appointed Bill Burns Vice-Chairman and will nominate him for election as Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Annual General Meeting 2018.

Bill Burns brings to Molecular Partners vast experience in the development and commercialization of drugs, particularly in oncology, and extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical industry operations. He held various executive positions at Roche for 28 years, culminating in his nomination to the position of CEO of Roche Pharmaceuticals and board seats at Roche, Genentech and Chugai Pharmaceuticals. Since 2010, he has been a Senior Independent Non-Executive Director of Shire Pharmaceuticals plc, a post from which he will step down in April 2018. Bill Burns has also been Vice-Chairman of Mesoblast since 2016. Additionally, he is a Trustee of the Institute of Cancer Research in London, and a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Center for Integrated Oncology of the University of Cologne/Bonn.

Patrick Amstutz is a co-founder of Molecular Partners and has served as CBO and COO of the company before being appointed as CEO.

For further information, please refer to the results of Molecular Partners’ Extraordinary General Meeting.

Financial Calendar

November 9, 2017	R&D Day in New York
February 8, 2018	Publication of Full-year Results 2017 (unaudited)
March 16, 2018	Expected Publication of 2017 Annual Report
April 18, 2018	Annual General Meeting

http://investors.molecularpartners.com/financial-calendar-and-events/

 

About the DARPin® Difference

DARPin® therapeutics are a new class of protein therapeutics that open an extra dimension of multi-specificity and multi-functionality. DARPin® candidates are potent, specific, safe and very versatile. They can engage more than five targets at once, offering potential benefits over those provided 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® therapies 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. 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 systemic DARPin® molecule, MP0250, is in a clinical POC study in multiple myeloma. In addition, Molecular Partners will evaluate MP0250 for the treatment of solid tumors in a phase 1b/2 trial in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MP0274, the company’s second-most advanced DARPin® drug candidate in oncology, has entered into phase 1 clinical development. With its broad anti-HER activity, MP0274 inhibits HER1-, HER2- and HER3-mediated downstream signaling via Her2, leading to induction of apoptosis. 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.

 

About Molecular Partners AG

Molecular Partners AG is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that is developing a new class of therapies known as DARPin® therapies. With a management team that includes many of the company’s founding scientists, Molecular Partners continues to attract talented individuals who share a passion for developing breakthrough medicines for serious diseases. Molecular Partners has compounds in various stages of clinical and preclinical development and several more in the research stage, with a current focus on ophthalmology and oncology. The company establishes research and development partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies and is backed by established biotech investors.
For more information regarding Molecular Partners AG, go to: www.molecularpartners.com.

 

For further details please contact:

Dr. Patrick Amstutz, CEO
patrick.amstutz@molecularpartners.com
Tel: +41 (0) 44 755 77 00

Andreas.Emmenegger, CFO
andreas.emmenegger@molecularpartners.com
Tel: +41 (0) 44 755 77 00

Rolf Schläpfer
Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors
rolf.schlaepfer@konsulenten.ch
Tel: +41 (0) 43 344 42 42

Susan A. Noonan
S.A. Noonan Communications, LLC
susan@sanoonan.com
Tel: +1 212 966 3650

 

Disclaimer

This communication does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for or purchase any securities of Molecular Partners AG. This publication may contain certain forward-looking statements and assessments or intentions concerning the company and its business. Such statements involve certain risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Readers should therefore not place reliance on these statements, particularly not in connection with any contract or investment decision. The company disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, assessments or intentions.

Research & Development highlights:

• MP0250: Phase 2 study in Multiple Myeloma progressing well and according to plan
• MP0250: FDA accepted the company’s IND (submitted in August 2017) for phase 2 study evaluating MP0250 in EGFR-mutated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (EGFR mut NSCLC);
  on track to dose first patient in Q1 2018
• MP0274: First patient dosed in phase 1 trial of this multi-DARPin® candidate for the treatment of HER2-positive solid tumors
• Immuno-oncology: Additional pre-clinical data on proprietary programs with focus on tumor restricted T-cell activation to be presented at the company’s R&D Day in New York on November 9, 2017
• Abicipar: On track for one-year phase 3 efficacy data in wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) in H2 2018

Team highlights:

• Bill Burns nominated for election to Molecular Partners’ Board of Directors as Vice-Chairman at Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on October 31, 2017; will stand for nomination as Chairman at the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in 2018
• Molecular Partners CEO and Co-founder Patrick Amstutz also to stand for election to Board at EGM on October 31, 2017

Financial highlights:

• Financial performance in-line with expectations and guidance
• Strong financial position with CHF 151.5 million in cash and short-term time deposits
  as of September 30, 2017
• Net cash used in operating activities of CHF 28.5 million over the first nine months of 2017, reflecting scale-up of R&D and clinical development activities

Zurich-Schlieren, October 26, 2017. Molecular Partners AG (SIX: MOLN), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of drugs known as DARPin® therapies*, today announced its Interim Management Statement for the period ending September 30, 2017.

“We are very pleased with the ongoing progress of all our programs, both in oncology as well as in immuno-oncology, during the first nine months of 2017,” said Dr. Patrick Amstutz, Chief Executive Officer of Molecular Partners. “Patient recruitment in the running phase 2 trial in Multiple Myeloma is advancing well. The FDA acceptance of the IND to proceed with MP0250 in a phase 2 study in NSCLC will allow us to test the potential of this drug in solid tumors. Further, the dosing of the first patient in the phase 1 trial of MP0274, our HER2 multi-DARPin® drug candidate, was a key milestone for our company, marking the second multi-DARPin® drug candidate to be evaluated in a systemic cancer trial. Finally, we will present promising pre-clinical data from our immuno-oncology candidates at our R&D Day.”

Phase 2 study in Multiple Myeloma progressing well and according to plan

The phase 2 study of MP0250, Molecular Partners’ lead oncology asset, is evaluating this agent in combination with bortezomib (Velcade®) and dexamethasone in patients with multiple myeloma who have failed standard therapies. For this study, which will measure the safety and efficacy of MP0250, additional patients have been dosed at centers in Germany, Poland and Italy. The company anticipates initial safety data before year-end 2017, followed by efficacy data in 2018.

FDA accepted IND for second phase 2 trial of MP0250 in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

In August 2017, Molecular Partners submitted to the FDA an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) for a phase 1b/2 study of MP0250 in combination with osimertinib (Tagrisso®) in patients with EGFR-mutated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) pretreated with osimertinib. The FDA has accepted the IND and endorsed the company’s first systemic oncology trial in the US. Targeting HGF and VEGF simultaneously, MP0250 administered in combination with osimertinib offers the possibility to target two of the described escape pathways.

“We are pleased to have received the positive feedback from the FDA on the IND for MP0250 for our first solid tumor indication,” commented Dr. Andreas Harstrick, Chief Medical Officer of Molecular Partners. “This feedback from the FDA is encouraging, and we look forward to initiating our second phase 2 clinical trial of MP0250 as planned during the first quarter of 2018.”

First patient enrolled in the phase 1 trial for MP0274

On October 12, 2017, the company announced that the first patient had been enrolled in the phase 1 trial of MP0274, a multi-specific DARPin® candidate being developed for the treatment of HER2-positive solid tumors.

MP0274 is a proprietary DARPin® drug candidate for the treatment of HER2-positive cancer with a completely new mode of action as compared to current standard of care antibodies. MP0274 induces a profound inhibition of specific downstream signaling pathways, providing mechanistic support to the finding that MP0274 directly kills HER2-addicted tumor cells through the induction of apoptosis.

Abicipar on track for one-year phase 3 efficacy data in H2 2018

The company anticipates one-year phase 3 efficacy data in wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) in H2 2018. C. David Nicholson, Executive Vice President & Chief R&D Officer of Allergan, will provide an update on abicipar at Molecular Partner’s R&D Day.

Balance Sheet: Strong cash and equity positions as of September 30, 2017

Molecular Partners’ financial performance for the first nine months of 2017 was in-line with management’s expectations and reflects the ongoing investments to further expand the company’s proprietary pipeline. Cash and short-term time deposits decreased by CHF 5.4 million to CHF 151.5 million as of September 30, 2017, from CHF 156.9 million as of June 30, 2017.

As of September 30, 2017, the company employed 107 FTEs (+3% year-over-year), with approximately 90% of employees serving in R&D functions.

“During the first nine months of 2017, Molecular Partners’ financial position continued to develop in line with our expectations,” said Andreas Emmenegger, Chief Financial Officer of Molecular Partners. “Our strong cash position provides us with the required financial flexibility and strong negotiation position to achieve multiple value-creating inflection points at least through the end of 2019.”

Bill Burns and Patrick Amstutz nominated for election to the Board on October 31, 2017 EGM

The Board of Directors of Molecular Partners has nominated William (Bill) Burns, former CEO of Roche Pharmaceuticals, for election to the Board of Directors at the upcoming EGM on October 31, 2017. Upon his election, the Board plans to appoint Bill Burns as Vice-Chairman. At the AGM in 2018, he will stand for nomination as Chairman. Patrick Amstutz, CEO and Co-founder of Molecular Partners, will also stand for election to the Board at the EGM.

Business outlook and priorities

For the company’s proprietary oncology pipeline, the company expects to report initial safety data from the phase 2 trial of MP0250 in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) in Q4 2017, and efficacy data in 2018. With regard to the phase 1b/2 trial of MP0250 for NSCLC, initial safety data are expected in 2018. For MP0274, the proprietary, single-pathway DARPin® drug candidate for the treatment of HER2-positive cancer, the company expects initial safety and activity data 2018.

The company will present new research data on its immuno-oncology pipeline at the R&D Day. In this promising field, Molecular Partners is increasingly focusing on activating agonists in a tumor-restricted way.

In ophthalmology, Molecular Partners will continue to support its strategic partner Allergan in advancing abicipar through phase 3 trials in patients with wet AMD, and in initiating a phase 3 trial of abicipar in patients with DME, the next retinal indication, in 2018.

R&D Day in New York on November 9 (12.00-2.30 pm EDT)

Molecular Partners will host an R&D Day for institutional investors, sell-side analysts, investment bankers, and business development professionals, entitled “The DARPin® Difference – Offering Patients a New Dimension of Protein Therapeutics”. Molecular Partners’ management team will provide an overview of the company’s clinical oncology pipeline and present key data from its pre-clinical immuno-oncology activities. C. David Nicholson, Executive Vice President & Chief R&D Officer at Allergan will present and discuss the company’s wet AMD candidate, abicipar. The event will also feature presentations by key opinion leaders (KOLs) in oncology, including Prof. Angelo Vacca, MD (Multiple Myeloma), Prof. Kathryn A. Gold, MD (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) and Dr. Richard Baird, MA MBBS FRCP Ph.D. (HER2+ Breast Cancer).
To reserve a seat for the R&D Day, please contact Susan Noonan at susan@sanoonan.com.
For those who are unable to attend in person, a live webcast and replay will be accessible.

Financial outlook 2017

The first nine months of 2017 developed in line with management expectations. For the full year 2017, at constant exchange rates, the company expects total expenses of approximately CHF 50 million, of which approximately CHF 5 million will be non-cash effective costs for share-based payments, IFRS pension accounting and depreciation. This guidance is subject to the progress of the pipeline, mainly driven by manufacturing costs, the speed of enrollment of patients in clinical trials and data from research and development projects.

Financial Calendar

October 31, 2017	Extraordinary General Meeting
November 9, 2017	R&D Day in New York
February 8, 2018	Publication of Full-year Results 2017 (unaudited)
March 16, 2018	Expected Publication of 2017 Annual Report
April 18, 2018	Annual General Meeting

http://investors.molecularpartners.com/financial-calendar-and-events/

 

About the DARPin® Difference

DARPin® therapeutics are a new class of protein therapeutics that open an extra dimension of multi-specificity and multi-functionality. DARPin® candidates are potent, specific, safe and very versatile. They can engage more than five targets at once, offering potential benefits over those provided 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® therapies 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. 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 systemic DARPin® molecule, MP0250, is in a clinical POC study in multiple myeloma. In addition, Molecular Partners will evaluate MP0250 for the treatment of solid tumors in a phase 1b/2 trial in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MP0274, the company’s second-most advanced DARPin® drug candidate in oncology, has entered into phase 1 clinical development. With its broad anti-HER activity, MP0274 inhibits HER1-, HER2- and HER3-mediated downstream signaling via Her2, leading to induction of apoptosis. 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.

 

About Molecular Partners AG

Molecular Partners AG is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that is developing a new class of therapies known as DARPin® therapies. With a management team that includes many of the company’s founding scientists, Molecular Partners continues to attract talented individuals who share a passion for developing breakthrough medicines for serious diseases. Molecular Partners has compounds in various stages of clinical and preclinical development and several more in the research stage, with a current focus on ophthalmology and oncology. The company establishes research and development partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies and is backed by established biotech investors.
For more information regarding Molecular Partners AG, go to: www.molecularpartners.com.

 

For further details please contact:

Dr. Patrick Amstutz, CEO
patrick.amstutz@molecularpartners.com
Tel: +41 (0) 44 755 77 00

Andreas.Emmenegger, CFO
andreas.emmenegger@molecularpartners.com
Tel: +41 (0) 44 755 77 00

Rolf Schläpfer
Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors
rolf.schlaepfer@konsulenten.ch
Tel: +41 (0) 43 344 42 42

Susan A. Noonan
S.A. Noonan Communications, LLC
susan@sanoonan.com
Tel: +1 212 966 3650

 

Disclaimer

This communication does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for or purchase any securities of Molecular Partners AG. This publication may contain certain forward-looking statements and assessments or intentions concerning the company and its business. Such statements involve certain risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Readers should therefore not place reliance on these statements, particularly not in connection with any contract or investment decision. The company disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, assessments or intentions.

Zurich-Schlieren, October 12, 2017. Molecular Partners AG (SIX: MOLN), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of drugs known as DARPin® therapies, announced today that the first patient was dosed in the phase 1 clinical study of its oncology asset MP0274. MP0274 is a proprietary DARPin® drug candidate for the treatment of HER2-positive cancer with a new mode of action compared to current standard of care antibodies.

The phase 1 study of MP0274 is a two part study in patients with advanced HER2-positive solid tumors. Part 1 will be conducted in three sites in Germany, Switzerland and the UK all of which are open to recruitment, and will assess safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and establish the recommended dose for further development. Part 2 will be conducted in the initial three sites as well as in additional sites and is designed to confirm safety and to assess preliminary efficacy at the recommended dose. Initial safety data are expected in the first half of 2018 and initial efficacy data towards the end of 2018.

“We are very pleased to have reached this important milestone to dose the first patient in our phase 1 study for patients with advanced HER-2 positive solid tumors with our novel drug candidate MP0274,” commented Dr. Andreas Harstrick, Chief Medical Officer at Molecular Partners. “With this milestone, Molecular Partners significantly expands its clinical portfolio besides the ongoing MP0250 clinical trials.”

 

Financial Calendar

October 26, 2017	Q3 2017 Management Statement
October 31, 2017	Extraordinary General Meeting
November 9, 2017	R&D Day in New York
February 8, 2018	Publication of Full-year Results 2017 (unaudited)
March 16, 2018	Expected Publication of 2017 Annual Report
April 18, 2018	Annual General Meeting

http://investors.molecularpartners.com/financial-calendar-and-events/

 

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 in 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® therapies 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 advanc-ing a proprietary pipeline of DARPin® drug candidates in 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 systemic DARPin® molecule, MP0250, is in Phase 1 clinical development for the treat-ment of solid tumors and has entered into Phase 2 development for hematological tumors. In ad-dition, Molecular Partners intends to further evaluate MP0250 for solid tumors in a phase 1b/2 trial for EGFR-mutated T790M-positive NSCLC. MP0274, the second-most advanced DARPin® drug candidate in oncology, has broad anti-HER activity; it inhibits HER1, HER2 and HER3-mediated downstream signaling via Her2, leading to induction of apoptosis. MP0274 has just moved into 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.

About Molecular Partners AG

Molecular Partners AG is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that is developing a new class of therapies known as DARPin® therapies. With a management team that includes many of the founding scientists, the company continues to attract talented individuals who share the passion to develop breakthrough medicines for serious diseases. Molecular Partners has com-pounds in various stages of clinical and preclinical development and several more in the research stage, with a current focus on ophthalmology and oncology. The company establishes research and development partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies and is backed by estab-lished biotech investors.
For more information regarding Molecular Partners AG, go to: www.molecularpartners.com.

For further details please contact:

Dr. Patrick Amstutz, CEO
patrick.amstutz@molecularpartners.com
Tel: +41 (0) 44 755 77 00

Andreas.Emmenegger, CFO
andreas.emmenegger@molecularpartners.com
Tel: +41 (0) 44 755 77 00

Rolf Schläpfer
Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors
rolf.schlaepfer@konsulenten.ch
Tel: +41 (0) 43 344 42 42

Susan A. Noonan
S.A. Noonan Communications, LLC
susan@sanoonan.com
Tel: +1 212 966 3650

 

Disclaimer

This communication does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for or purchase any securities of Molecular Partners AG. This publication may contain certain forward-looking statements and assessments or intentions concerning the company and its business. Such statements involve certain risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Readers should therefore not place reliance on these statements, particularly not in connection with any contract or investment decision. The company disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, assessments or intentions.

Zurich-Schlieren, October 9, 2017. Molecular Partners AG (SIX: MOLN), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that is developing a new class of drugs, known as DARPin® therapies, today published the Invitation to the Extraordinary General Meeting which will be held on Tuesday, October 31, 2017, 2.00 pm CET (doors open at 1.00 pm), at the registered office of the company, 5^th floor, Wagistrasse 14, 8952 Schlieren, Switzerland.

At this Extraordinary General Meeting William (Bill) Burns and Patrick Amstutz will be proposed for election to the Board of Directors.

Link to the Invitation to the Extraordinary General Meeting with the corresponding agenda items.

Link zur Einladung zur ausserordentlichen Generalversammlung mit den zugehörigen Traktanden.

 

Financial Calendar

October 26, 2017	Q3 2017 Management Statement
October 31, 2017	Extraordinary General Meeting
November 9, 2017	R&D Day in New York
February 8, 2018	Publication of Full-year Results 2017 (unaudited)
March 16, 2018	Expected Publication of 2017 Annual Report
April 18, 2018	Annual General Meeting

http://investors.molecularpartners.com/financial-calendar-and-events/

 

About the DARPin® Difference

DARPin® therapeutics are a new class of protein therapeutics that open an extra dimension of multi-specificity and multi-functionality. DARPin® candidates are potent, specific, safe and very versatile. They can engage more than five targets at once, offering potential benefits over those provided 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® therapies 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. 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 systemic DARPin® molecule, MP0250, is in a clinical POC study in multiple myeloma. In addition, Molecular Partners intends to evaluate MP0250 for the treatment of solid tumors in a phase 1b/2 trial in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MP0274, the company’s second-most advanced DARPin® drug candidate in oncology, is entering into phase 1 development. With its broad anti-HER activity, MP0274 inhibits HER1-, HER2- and HER3-mediated downstream signaling via Her2, leading to induction of apoptosis. 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.

About Molecular Partners AG

Molecular Partners AG is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that is developing a new class of therapies known as DARPin® therapies. With a management team that includes many of the company’s founding scientists, Molecular Partners continues to attract talented individuals who share a passion for developing breakthrough medicines for serious diseases. Molecular Partners has compounds in various stages of clinical and preclinical development and several more in the research stage, with a current focus on ophthalmology and oncology. The company establishes research and development partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies and is backed by established biotech investors.
For more information regarding Molecular Partners AG, go to: www.molecularpartners.com.

For further details please contact:

Dr. Patrick Amstutz, CEO
patrick.amstutz@molecularpartners.com
Tel: +41 (0) 44 755 77 00

Andreas.Emmenegger, CFO
andreas.emmenegger@molecularpartners.com
Tel: +41 (0) 44 755 77 00

Rolf Schläpfer
Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors
rolf.schlaepfer@konsulenten.ch
Tel: +41 (0) 43 344 42 42

Susan A. Noonan
S.A. Noonan Communications, LLC
susan@sanoonan.com
Tel: +1 212 966 3650

 

Disclaimer

This communication does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for or purchase any securities of Molecular Partners AG. This publication may contain certain forward-looking statements and assessments or intentions concerning the company and its business. Such statements involve certain risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Readers should therefore not place reliance on these statements, particularly not in connection with any contract or investment decision. The company disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, assessments or intentions.

CEO and Co-founder Patrick Amstutz also to stand for election to Board at extraordinary general meeting on October 31, 2017

Zurich-Schlieren, October 3, 2017. Molecular Partners AG (SIX: MOLN), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of drugs known as DARPin® therapies*, today announced that its Board of Directors has nominated William (Bill) Burns, former CEO of Roche Pharmaceuticals, for election to the Board of Directors. An extraordinary general meeting will take place on October 31, 2017, after which the Board of Directors plans to appoint Bill Burns Vice-Chairman. At the annual general meeting 2018, he will be nominated for election to Chairman of the Board of Directors.

“We are delighted to have attracted Bill as a Board member and future Chairman of Molecular Partners,” commented Jörn Aldag, current Chairman of the Molecular Partners Board of Directors. “The Company is rapidly evolving from a technology platform-based enterprise to a fully integrated, oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company. Bill has an extremely deep understanding of the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, with a focus on oncology, an outstanding reputation, and strong leadership skills. He is the ideal person to guide the next phase of growth as Molecular Partners seeks to become a key player in oncology.”

“It is a pleasure to join the Molecular Partners team,” said Bill Burns. “With an ongoing pivotal trial in ophthalmology and the company’s ambitious plans to create high patient value in oncology, the timing is perfect. I look forward to working with Patrick and the team to make DARPin®-based drugs a landmark therapeutic approach.”

At the forthcoming extraordinary general meeting on October 31, 2017, Molecular Partners Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder Patrick Amstutz will also stand for election to the Board of Directors, along with Bill Burns. As announced previously, the Board had nominated Patrick Amstutz for election in May 2017.

“I am honored to join the Board of Directors and I look forward to working closely with Bill to continue Molecular Partners’ successful development,” commented Patrick Amstutz. “Bill’s expertise and skills will be invaluable to our continued success.”

Bill Burns brings to Molecular Partners vast experience in the development and commercialization of drugs, particularly in oncology, and extensive knowledge of pharmaceutical industry operations. He held various executive positions at Roche for 28 years, culminating in his nomination to the position of CEO of Roche Pharmaceuticals and board seats at Roche, Genentech and Chugai Pharmaceuticals. Since 2010, he has been a Senior Independent Non-Executive Director of Shire Pharmaceuticals plc, a post from which he will step down in April 2018. Bill Burns has also been Vice-Chairman of Mesoblast since 2016. Additionally, he is a Trustee of the Institute of Cancer Research in London, and a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Center for Integrated Oncology of the University of Cologne/Bonn.

Financial Calendar

October 26, 2017	Q3 2017 Management Statement
October 31, 2017	Extraordinary General Meeting
November 9, 2017	R&D Day in New York
February 8, 2018	Publication of Full-year Results 2017 (unaudited)
March 16, 2018	Expected Publication of 2017 Annual Report
April 18, 2018	Annual General Meeting

http://investors.molecularpartners.com/financial-calendar-and-events/

About the DARPin® Difference

DARPin® therapeutics are a new class of protein therapeutics that open an extra dimension of multi-specificity and multi-functionality. DARPin® candidates are potent, specific, safe and very versatile. They can engage more than five targets at once, offering potential benefits over those provided 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® therapies 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. 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 systemic DARPin® molecule, MP0250, is in a clinical POC study in multiple myeloma. In addition, Molecular Partners intends to evaluate MP0250 for the treatment of solid tumors in a phase 1b/2 trial in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MP0274, the company’s second-most advanced DARPin® drug candidate in oncology, is entering into phase 1 development. With its broad anti-HER activity, MP0274 inhibits HER1-, HER2- and HER3-mediated downstream signaling via Her2, leading to induction of apoptosis. 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.

About Molecular Partners AG

Molecular Partners AG is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that is developing a new class of therapies known as DARPin® therapies. With a management team that includes many of the company’s founding scientists, Molecular Partners continues to attract talented individuals who share a passion for developing breakthrough medicines for serious diseases. Molecular Partners has compounds in various stages of clinical and preclinical development and several more in the research stage, with a current focus on ophthalmology and oncology. The company establishes research and development partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies and is backed by established biotech investors.
For more information regarding Molecular Partners AG, go to: www.molecularpartners.com.

For further details please contact:

Dr. Patrick Amstutz, CEO
patrick.amstutz@molecularpartners.com
Tel: +41 (0) 44 755 77 00

Andreas.Emmenegger, CFO
andreas.emmenegger@molecularpartners.com
Tel: +41 (0) 44 755 77 00

Rolf Schläpfer
Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors
rolf.schlaepfer@konsulenten.ch
Tel: +41 (0) 43 344 42 42

Susan A. Noonan
S.A. Noonan Communications, LLC
susan@sanoonan.com
Tel: +1 212 966 3650

 

Disclaimer

This communication does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for or purchase any securities of Molecular Partners AG. This publication may contain certain forward-looking statements and assessments or intentions concerning the company and its business. Such statements involve certain risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Readers should therefore not place reliance on these statements, particularly not in connection with any contract or investment decision. The company disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, assessments or intentions.

Zurich-Schlieren, September 19, 2017. Molecular Partners AG (SIX: MOLN), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that is developing a new class of drugs known as DARPin® therapies, is hosting an R&D update on “The DARPin® Difference – Offering Patients a New Dimension of Protein Therapeutics.” The event takes place in New York on November 9, 2017, 12.00-2.30 pm EDT.

The meeting will feature a presentation by C. David Nicholson, Executive Vice President & Chief R&D Officer at Allergan, who will discuss the company’s wet AMD candidate, abicipar.

The meeting will also feature presentations by key opinion leaders (KOLs) demonstrating the potential of DARPin® therapeutics in oncology (see full bios below):

• Prof. Angelo Vacca, MD – Multiple Myeloma (MM)
• Prof. Kathryn A. Gold, MD – Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
• Dr. Richard Baird, MA MBBS FRCP Ph.D. – HER2+ Breast Cancer

Molecular Partners’ management team will provide an overview of the Company’s clinical oncology pipeline and present key data from its pre-clinical immuno-oncology activities.

Schedule for Thursday, November 9, 2017

• 11:45 am EDT Check-In
• 12:00 pm EDT Lunch to begin
• 12:15 – 2:30 pm EDT Presentations and Q&A

Location:

Aretsky’s Patroon Townhouse
160 E. 46th Street, Between Lex and 3rd Ave.
New York, NY

RSVP: susan@sanoonan.com

Discussion topics will include:

• The DARPin® Platform and Corporate Strategy
• MP0250 phase 2 in MM
• MP0250 for NSCLC
• MP0274 for HER2+ tumors
• Immuno-oncology – with a focus on tumor-restricted agonists
• Abicipar, licensed to Allergan, currently in phase 3 trials for wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD). Topline results are expected in 2018.
• Updates on Molecular Partners’ clinical development timelines.

This event is intended for institutional investors, sell-side analysts, investment bankers, and business development professionals only. Please RSVP in advance if you plan to attend, as space is limited.

Webcast Information:

For those who are unable to attend in person, a live webcast and replay will be accessible on the company’s website.

 

Guest Speaker and KOL Biographies:

C. David Nicholson is Executive Vice President & Chief R&D Officer at Allergan. He holds degrees in pharmacology, earning his B.Sc. from the University of Manchester and his Ph.D. from the University of Wales. His prior pharmaceutical industry experience includes Beecham-Wülfing in Germany and various positions of increasing seniority at Organon, a Business Unit of Akzo Nobel, in the UK, the Netherlands, and the US. Ultimately, he became Executive Vice President, Research & Development, and a member of the Organon Executive Management Committee. He has also worked for Schering-Plough as Senior Vice President, responsible for global project management and drug safety, and at Merck as Senior Vice President, Licensing and Knowledge Management. As an integration team member, he played a key role in the strategic mergers of Organon BioSciences and Schering-Plough, as well as the acquisition of Schering-Plough by Merck and Forest Laboratories by Actavis. David Nicholson was also head of R&D and a member of the executive committee at Bayer Crop Science. He has served on the boards of several biotechnology companies, including Actinium Pharmaceuticals.

Angelo Vacca is Chief of Internal Medicine at the University of Bari Medical School, Bari (Italy), and also serves as its Vice-Rector and full professor. He is head of the lab “Angiogenesis, Vascular Biology, and Myeloma microenvironment.” Dr. Vacca is also honorary President of the Italian Society of Immunology, Clinical Immunology and Allergology. He completed his post-doctoral fellowship in clinical immunology at the University of Bari, and was awarded his M.D. degree in 1980. In 1983, began to specialize in hematology, and in 1993, in internal medicine. He spent three years at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, CH-1066 Epalinges S./Lausanne, Switzerland, focusing on the production of monoclonal antibodies, as well as immunoscintigraphy of and vascular access to human lymphomas. His current research fields include: angiogenesis and tumor progression (study of microvessel areas in tumors as progression marker; correlation with invasion and metastasis; bone marrow angiogenesis and myeloma progression; mechanisms of induction of angiogenesis); multiple myeloma and related malignancies (clinical, cellular and immunochemical features; polycenter, controlled chemotherapy studies). Dr. Vacca has published over 300 papers in international medical journals and has authored numerous reviews and book chapters. Dr. Vacca has been recognized with the Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro (Milan, Italy) award for his research.

Kathryn A. Gold, MD, is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the University of California San Diego Moores Cancer Center. She is the Associate Director of Clinical Research Services at the Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute and the chair of the Moores Cancer Center Data and Safety Monitoring Committee. Dr. Gold is an active clinical and translational researcher, with a focus on the use of targeted therapies for the treatment of lung and head and neck cancers, in addition to running a successful clinical practice. Dr. Gold’s research has appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine, Science, and Journal of Clinical Oncology and has been presented at national and international meetings. She served as the principal investigator of a number of pharmaceutical sponsored and investigator initiated studies and has received grant support from the National Institutes of Health and the American Society of Clinical Oncology Conquer Cancer Foundation.

Dr. Richard Baird, MA MBBS FRCP Ph.D., is an Academic Consultant in Experimental Cancer Therapeutics at the University of Cambridge. He is also a cancer researcher and medical oncologist at Cambridge University Hospitals, U.K. He trained at University of Cambridge and Institute of Cancer Research / Royal Marsden Hospital. Dr. Baird holds a Ph.D. in molecular pharmacology and cancer drug development and specializes in the care of breast cancer patients. Dr. Baird’s research is focused on the development of novel HER2-targeted therapies, including better approaches for patients with brain metastases, as well as companion biomarkers to identify patients most likely to respond to treatment (or not) – including liquid biopsies / circulating tumor DNA. Since 2002 he has served as co- or principal investigator on more than 80 phase 1 / 2 clinical trials, and is currently the chief investigator on three multi-center investigator-initiated clinical trials. He is the UK national academic lead for the Association of Cancer Physicians.

 

About Molecular Partners AG

Molecular Partners AG is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that is developing a new class of therapies known as DARPin® therapies. With a management team that includes many of the founding scientists, the company continues to attract talented individuals who share the
passion to develop breakthrough medicines for serious diseases. Molecular Partners has compounds in various stages of clinical and preclinical development and several more in the research stage, with a current focus on ophthalmology and oncology. The company establishes research and development partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies and is backed by established biotech investors.
For more information regarding Molecular Partners AG, go to: www.molecularpartners.com.

 

For further details please contact:

Dr. Patrick Amstutz, CEO
patrick.amstutz@molecularpartners.com
Tel: +41 (0) 44 755 77 00

Andreas.Emmenegger, CFO
andreas.emmenegger@molecularpartners.com
Tel: +41 (0) 44 755 77 00

Rolf Schläpfer
Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors
rolf.schlaepfer@konsulenten.ch
Tel: +41 (0) 43 344 42 42

Susan A. Noonan
S.A. Noonan Communications, LLC
susan@sanoonan.com
Tel: +1 212 966 3650