- Monday, November 23, 2020 @ 7:00 am
A first cohort of eight healthy volunteers has been dosed in a Phase 1 first-in-human study of MP0420 (ensovibep), Molecular Partners' DARPin therapeutic candidate for the potential treatment and prevention of COVID-19. MP0420 is designed to bind the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein at three distinct locations to prevent viral entry into cells. Preclinical data support MP0420’s potential efficacy as both a prophylactic and as an acute therapy.
Molecular Partners AG (SIX: MOLN), a clinical-stage biotech company that is developing a new class of custom-built protein drugs known as DARPin therapeutics, today announced that a first cohort of eight healthy volunteers has been dosed in a Phase 1 first-in-human study of MP0420 (ensovibep), a DARPin therapeutic candidate for the potential treatment and prevention of COVID-19. MP0420 is designed to bind the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein at three distinct locations to prevent viral entry into cells. Preclinical data support MP0420’s potential efficacy as both a prophylactic and as an acute therapy. MP0420 is subject to an option and license agreement with Novartis AG to develop, manufacture and commercialize Molecular Partners’ anti-COVID-19 DARPin program.
“Our anti-COVID-19 program is aimed at delivering an efficacious, highly scalable, and globally distributable therapeutic that has the potential to both treat infected patients and protect high risk populations,” said Nicolas Leupin, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Molecular Partners. “In collaboration with our partner, Novartis, our team continues to move at extraordinary speed from idea to bench to clinical trials, driven by a common desire to help patients against this devastating disease and help bring the world back closer to normalcy.”
Conducted in the United Kingdom, the trial is a Phase 1, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, first-in-human single ascending dose study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of intravenously administered MP0420 in up to 24 healthy volunteers divided into three dose cohorts, with each cohort stratified 3:1 in favor of MP0420.
About Molecular Partners' anti-COVID-19 program
Molecular Partners two antiviral DARPin candidates, MP0420 and MP0423, are designed to target multiple different sites on the SARS-CoV-2 virus simultaneously for enhanced antiviral effects and potential use as both prophylactics and treatments. The benefits of this multi-specificity include cooperative binding, extremely high potencies and potential prevention of viral ‘escape’ via mutations. The candidates are formatted with a half-life extending DARPin domain that binds to human serum albumin (HSA) to support long-acting activity. All DARPin candidates are constructed to benefit from high-yield and low-cost microbial manufacturing. Molecular Partners is investigating whether the high thermal stability of DARPin molecules can be used to overcome cold-chain requirements.
Following strong preclinical data supporting the anti-COVID-19 program candidates, in October 2020 the Company entered into a collaboration with Novartis AG in the form of an option and license agreement to develop, manufacture and commercialize Molecular Partners’ anti-COVID-19 DARPin program. Per the terms of the agreement, Molecular Partners will conduct Phase 1 clinical trials for MP0420 (ensovibep) and perform all remaining preclinical work for MP0423; Novartis will conduct Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials, with Molecular Partners as sponsor of these trials. Upon option exercise, Novartis would be responsible for all further development and commercialization activities. Molecular Partners is also collaborating with AGC Biologics, Baccinex, and Ivers-Lee Clinical Supply Management (IL-CSM) to support development of its anti-COVID-19 program, and has reached an agreement with the Swiss Government regarding rights to purchase up to 3.2 million doses of MP0420, if it is approved in Switzerland.
