On December 18, 2018 Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) and Molecular Partners AG (SIX: MOLN), a clinical-stage biotech company pioneering the use of DARPin therapeutics, reported a collaboration and license agreement for the clinical development and commercialization of MP0310 (FAP x 4-1BB) (Press release, Amgen, DEC 18, 2018, View Source [SID1234532127]). MP0310 is a preclinical molecule designed to locally activate immune cells in the tumor by binding to FAP on tumor stromal cells (localizer) and co-stimulating T cells via 4-1BB (immune modulator).
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Under the terms of the agreement, Amgen obtains exclusive global development and commercial rights for MP0310. The parties will jointly evaluate MP0310 in combination with Amgen`s oncology pipeline products, including its investigational BiTE (bispecific T cell engager) molecules. Under the collaboration, Molecular Partners retains certain rights to develop and commercialize its proprietary DARPin pipeline products in combination with MP0310.
Molecular Partners will receive an upfront payment of $50 million and is eligible to receive up to $497 million in development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, as well as double-digit, tiered royalties up to the high teens. The parties will share the clinical development costs in defined percentages for the first three indications subject to certain conditions. For all additional clinical trials, Amgen is responsible for all development costs.
"MP0310 is the first candidate out of our portfolio of localized and multi-specific immune-cell agonists. This collaboration with Amgen will allow us to test multiple combinations of MP0310 with other agents, leveraging the potential of MP0310. We anticipate MP0310 to enter the clinic in 2019," said Dr. Patrick Amstutz, chief executive officer of Molecular Partners. "The partnership with Amgen underlines the potential of MP0310 and the DARPin platform to deliver novel therapeutic designs."
"The field of immuno-oncology continues to rapidly evolve, and it’s our belief that combination treatments will have a major role to play in the future of cancer care," said David M. Reese, M.D., executive vice president of Research and Development at Amgen. "We look forward to collaborating with Molecular Partners to combine MP0310 with certain oncology assets, including BiTE molecules, to deliver improved outcomes for patients."
Conference call and audio webcast
Molecular Partners will host a conference call and audio webcast on Dec. 19, 2018, at 2 p.m. CET (1 p.m. GMT, 5 a.m. PT).
In order to register for the conference call, please dial the following numbers approximately 10 minutes before the start of the presentation:
Switzerland / Europe
+41 (0) 58 310 5000
UK
+44 (0) 207 107 0613
USA
+1 (1) 631 570 5613
Interested parties can access a corresponding audio webcast of the presentation. The 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.
About DARPin Therapeutics
DARPin therapeutics are a new class of protein therapeutics opening an extra dimension of multi-specificity and multi-functionality. DARPin candidates contain multiple designed ankyrin repeat binding domains and can engage more than five targets, offering potential benefits over 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 high production yields. DARPin is a registered trademark owned by Molecular Partners AG.