Molecular Partners Presents Updated Positive Data from Ongoing Phase 1 Trial of MP0317 (FAP X CD40) Monotherapy in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors at the 2023 SITC Annual Meeting

• MP0317 continues to demonstrate tumor-localized CD40 activation, leading to elevated immune activity in the tumor microenvironment
  

• MP0317 monotherapy shows a favorable safety profile up to the highest planned doses
  

• Patient recruitment of the study’s dose-escalation portion is complete, with final study results expected in H1 2024
  

• Data support continued clinical evaluation of MP0317, including in combination studies
  

ZURICH-SCHLIEREN, Switzerland and CONCORD, Mass., Nov. 03, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 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, will present additional positive data from its Phase 1 study of MP0317 in patients with advanced solid tumors at the 2023 Annual Meeting of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC), being held November 1–5 in San Diego, California. MP0317 is a CD40 agonist designed to activate immune cells specifically within the tumor microenvironment (TME) by anchoring to fibroblast activation protein (FAP).

“MP0317 continues to demonstrate its potential to overcome the limitations of existing CD40 agonists through its unique DARPin design that allows to activate immune cells directly within the TME, while avoiding eliciting systemic toxicities,” said Philippe Legenne M.D, acting CMO of Molecular Partners. “The encouraging results presented at SITC provide clinical evidence of MP0317-induced, tumor-targeted CD40 activation. The observed remodeling of the TME and MP0317’s favorable safety profile across all dosing cohorts, including the highest planned doses, support further investigation of MP0317 in later-stage clinical studies including combination trials.”

Details of the poster presenting updated results from the ongoing MP0317 Phase 1 study at the SITC 2023 Annual Meeting can be found below. The poster will be made available on Molecular Partners' website after the presentation.

Title: Ongoing Phase 1 study of MP0317, a FAP-CD40 DARPin, shows a favorable safety profile and early evidence of tumor-localized CD40 activation in patients with advanced solid tumors
Poster number: 721
Location & Timing: Exhibit Hall B, Friday November 3, 2023, 9am – 7pm ET

This update, based on data from 46 patients, corroborates earlier reported findings of MP0317-induced CD40 activation and related remodeling of the TME. The detection of MP0317 in tumor biopsies is associated with an increase in CD40-mediated re-programming of immune cells illustrated by IFNg production and dendritic cell (DC) maturation within the TME. Elevation of serum levels of CXCL10, an effector chemokine downstream of IFNg signaling, and changes in soluble biomarkers (sFAP & sCD40) post-MP0317 treatment support these findings. To date, one patient achieved a partial response and stable disease was observed in eight additional patients.