Molecular Partners appoints Martin Steegmaier as Chief Scientific Officer to drive discovery of next-gen DARPin therapeutics

Rhea-AI Summary

Molecular Partners (NASDAQ:MOLN) has appointed Martin Steegmaier, Ph.D. as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) and member of the Executive Committee, effective October 1, 2025. Dr. Steegmaier brings extensive oncology drug development experience from his previous roles at SOTIO Biotech, MorphoSys, Roche, and Boehringer Ingelheim.

As CSO, Steegmaier will lead the research organization and advance the company's pipeline of targeted DARPin therapeutics for cancer patients, including Radio-DARPins and Switch-DARPins for logic-gated immune cell activation. His background includes significant experience in developing antibody-based therapeutics in immuno-oncology and hematology-oncology.

Positive

• Appointment of experienced CSO with extensive oncology drug development background
• New CSO brings direct expertise in large molecule development relevant to DARPin platforms
• Strategic addition to advance pipeline of targeted cancer therapeutics

Negative

• None.

• Extensive experience from senior oncology research roles at Roche, MorphoSys, Boehringer Ingelheim and most recently CSO at SOTIO Biotech

ZURICH-SCHLIEREN, Switzerland and CONCORD, Mass., Aug. 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR 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 (“Molecular Partners” or the “Company”), today announced the appointment of Martin Steegmaier, Ph.D. as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) and member of the company’s Executive Committee, effective October 1, 2025. Martin brings a wealth of experience in oncology drug development, having previously contributed to the advancement of several innovative cancer therapies at major biotech and pharmaceutical companies.

“I am delighted to welcome Martin Steegmaier to Molecular Partners, where his extensive expertise in oncology, business and leadership will provide further impetus to our efforts to deliver unique cancer therapies,” said Patrick Amstutz, Ph.D., CEO of Molecular Partners. “Martin’s experience will be invaluable in leading the research organization and as we continue to innovate and advance our pipeline of targeted DARPin therapeutics for cancer patients, including Radio-DARPins and Switch-DARPins for logic-gated immune cell activation.”

Martin Steegmaier joins Molecular Partners from SOTIO Biotech, a clinical-stage company developing immunotherapies for cancer, where he was CSO and lead the development of a broad pipeline of oncology programs.

Martin has extensive experience from senior roles at major biotech and pharma companies, including as Head of Research at MorphoSys, focusing on the development of antibody-based therapeutics in immuno-oncology and hematology-oncology. He previously held various positions in pharma partnering and oncology disease areas at Roche, becoming Head of Discovery for the Large Molecule Research organization at the Roche Innovation Center in Munich, and at Boehringer Ingelheim in oncology drug discovery.

Martin graduated from the Northern Arizona University and holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Basel and an MBA from the Edinburgh Business School.

Martin Steegmaier, Ph.D., said: “I’m pleased to join the exceptional team at Molecular Partners and to contribute to pioneering the cutting-edge DARPin therapeutics. I have built up considerable experience in oncology over my career, including developing large molecules at Roche and other organizations, which is directly relevant to the advancement of Molecular Partners’ exciting DARPin platforms and pipeline. I am looking forward to working with the team and to driving forward the next generation of DARPin therapeutics for patients with high unmet need.”

About Molecular Partners AG 
Molecular Partners AG (SIX: MOLN, NASDAQ: MOLN) is a clinical-stage biotech company pioneering the design and development of DARPin therapeutics for medical challenges other drug modalities cannot readily address. The Company has programs in various stages of pre-clinical and clinical development, with oncology as its main focus. Molecular Partners leverages the advantages of DARPins to provide unique solutions to patients through its proprietary programs as well as through partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies. Molecular Partners was founded in 2004 and has offices in both Zurich, Switzerland and Concord, MA, USA. For more information, visit www.molecularpartners.com and find us on LinkedIn and Twitter / X @MolecularPrtnrs

For further details, please contact:
Seth Lewis, SVP Investor Relations & Strategy
Concord, Massachusetts, U.S.
seth.lewis@molecularpartners.com
Tel: +1 781 420 2361

Laura Jeanbart, PhD, Head of Portfolio Management & Communications
Zurich-Schlieren, Switzerland
laura.jeanbart@molecularpartners.com
Tel: +41 44 575 19 35

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including without limitation: implied and express statements regarding the clinical development of Molecular Partners’ current or future product candidates; expectations regarding timing for reporting data from ongoing clinical trials or the initiation of future clinical trials; the potential therapeutic and clinical benefits of Molecular Partners’ product candidates and its RDT and Switch-DARPin platforms; the selection and development of future programs; Molecular Partners’ collaboration with Orano Med including the benefits and results that may be achieved through the collaboration; and Molecular Partners’ expected business and financial outlook, including anticipated expenses and cash utilization for 2025 and its expectation of its current cash runway and the expected use of proceeds from the October 2024 offering. These statements may be identified by words such as “aim”, "anticipate”, “expect”, “guidance”, “intend”, “outlook”, “plan”, “potential”, “will” and similar expressions, and are based on Molecular Partners’ current beliefs and expectations. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such statements. Some of the key factors that could cause actual results to differ from Molecular Partners’ expectations include its plans to develop and potentially commercialize its product candidates; Molecular Partners’ reliance on third party partners and collaborators over which it may not always have full control; Molecular Partners’ ongoing and planned clinical trials and preclinical studies for its product candidates, including the timing of such trials and studies; the risk that the results of preclinical studies and clinical trials may not be predictive of future results in connection with future clinical trials; the timing of and Molecular Partners’ ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals for its product candidates; the extent of clinical trials potentially required for Molecular Partners’ product candidates; the clinical utility and ability to achieve market acceptance of Molecular Partners’ product candidates; the potential that Molecular Partners’ product candidates may exhibit serious adverse, undesirable or unacceptable side effects; the impact of any health pandemic, macroeconomic factors and other global events on Molecular Partners’ preclinical studies, clinical trials or operations, or the operations of third parties on which it relies; Molecular Partners’ plans and development of any new indications for its product candidates; Molecular Partners’ commercialization, marketing and manufacturing capabilities and strategy; Molecular Partners’ intellectual property position; Molecular Partners’ ability to identify and in-license additional product candidates; unanticipated factors in addition to the foregoing that may cause Molecular Partners’ actual results to differ from its financial and business projections and guidance; and other risks and uncertainties set forth in Molecular Partners’ Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024 and other filings Molecular Partners makes with the SEC from time to time. These documents are available on the Investors page of Molecular Partners’ website at www.molecularpartners.com. In addition, this press release contains information relating to interim data as of the relevant data cutoff date, results of which may differ from topline results that may be obtained in the future. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are based on information available to Molecular Partners as of the date of this release, and Molecular Partners assumes no obligation to, and does not intend to, update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

FAQ

Who is the new CSO of Molecular Partners (NASDAQ:MOLN)?

Martin Steegmaier, Ph.D. has been appointed as the new CSO of Molecular Partners, effective October 1, 2025. He joins from SOTIO Biotech where he served as CSO.

What is Martin Steegmaier's experience in biotechnology?

Dr. Steegmaier has held senior roles at SOTIO Biotech (CSO), MorphoSys (Head of Research), Roche (Head of Discovery for Large Molecule Research), and Boehringer Ingelheim, with extensive experience in oncology drug development.

What will be Martin Steegmaier's role at Molecular Partners (MOLN)?

As CSO, he will lead the research organization and advance the pipeline of targeted DARPin therapeutics for cancer patients, including Radio-DARPins and Switch-DARPins.

What types of therapeutics does Molecular Partners (MOLN) develop?

Molecular Partners develops a new class of custom-built protein drugs known as DARPin therapeutics, including Radio-DARPins and Switch-DARPins for logic-gated immune cell activation in cancer treatment.