Molecular Partners presents three posters at AACR 2026, with new preclinical data for first Switch-DARPin T cell engager MP0632 and DLL3 Radio-DARPin MP0712
Rhea-AI Summary
Molecular Partners (NASDAQ: MOLN) will present three AACR 2026 posters with preclinical and early clinical data for novel DARPin candidates. MP0632 is a logic-gated Switch-DARPin T cell engager showing tumor regression in MSLN/EpCAM co-expressing models with limited activity on single-antigen tumors, suggesting a favorable therapeutic window. MP0712 is a 212Pb Radio-DARPin with high DLL3 affinity, half-life extension and promising biodistribution plus first patient imaging data; MP0712 is in a US Phase 1/2a trial for SCLC.
Presentations occur 4/20/2026 and 4/22/2026; posters to be posted after AACR.
Positive
- MP0632 showed tumor regression in dual-antigen preclinical models
- MP0632 demonstrated minimal impact on single-antigen tumors (favorable window)
- MP0712 delivered attractive biodistribution in preclinical studies
- MP0712 produced first patient imaging data via Named Patient Access
- MP0712 is in an ongoing US Phase 1/2a trial for SCLC
Negative
- MP0632 remains at the preclinical stage with no clinical efficacy data
- MP0712 clinical evidence limited to early imaging and small Named Patient Access data
- No quantitative clinical efficacy or safety readouts disclosed from human trials
News Market Reaction – MOLN
On the day this news was published, MOLN gained 4.88%, reflecting a moderate positive market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +3.0% during that session. Our momentum scanner triggered 2 alerts that day, indicating moderate trading interest and price volatility. This price movement added approximately $9M to the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $182.90M at that time.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
MOLN was flat on the day of this news, while peers showed mixed moves: NKTX up 22.61%, INO up 2.59%, ACTU up 3.59%, AVTX down 2.5%, GNLX down 2.11%. No clear sector-wide pattern tied to this announcement.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 14 | AGM outcomes | Neutral | +1.4% | AGM approvals and Clare Fisher elected to Board with all proposals passed. |
| Mar 23 | AGM invitation | Neutral | -1.6% | Invitation to AGM and proposal of Clare Fisher as new director. |
| Mar 19 | Radio-DARPin data | Positive | +3.2% | Preclinical Radio-DARPin data showing comparable biodistribution across isotopes. |
| Mar 17 | AACR poster plans | Positive | +4.7% | Announcement of three AACR 2026 posters on T cell engagers and MP0712. |
| Mar 12 | Full-year 2025 results | Negative | -10.4% | 2025 net loss of CHF 61.7M with pipeline and cash runway update. |
Recent news flow shows directional reactions: positive R&D updates (AACR and Radio-DARPins) coincided with modest gains, while full-year 2025 financials with a wider net loss saw a sharper decline. Governance/AGM items produced relatively small moves.
Over the past months, Molecular Partners reported its 2025 results with a net loss of CHF 61.7M and cash of CHF 93.1M, which coincided with a -10.4% move. Subsequent AACR- and Radio-DARPin–focused news on MP0712 and poster plans at AACR 2026 were followed by gains of 3.19% and 4.72%. Governance updates around the AGM and Clare Fisher’s nomination/election led to smaller moves of -1.64% and +1.45%. Today’s AACR data update continues this R&D-focused trajectory.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement showcases expanded data on Molecular Partners’ DARPin platform, including proof-of-concept preclinical results for MP0632 and additional characterization of MP0712, a 212Pb-based Radio-DARPin in a Phase 1/2a trial. It follows earlier AACR 2026 poster planning and prior MP0712 updates. Investors may focus on how these programs complement the broader pipeline described in recent filings, the company’s cash runway into 2028, and upcoming clinical readouts that could validate this preclinical and early clinical evidence.
Key Terms
t cell engager medical
radio-darpin medical
dll3 medical
phase 1/2a medical
mesothelin medical
epithelial cell adhesion molecule medical
biodistribution medical
radiotherapy medical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
- MP0632 nominated as first logic-gated Switch-DARPin T cell engager candidate for the treatment of MSLN/EpCAM expressing solid tumors, with preclinical data indicating favorable therapeutic window
- MP0712, Radio-DARPin candidate in on-going US Phase 1/2a trial, leverages high affinity to DLL3, half-life extension and DLL3 internalization for high tumor accumulation
ZURICH-SCHLIEREN, Switzerland and CONCORD, Mass, April 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Molecular Partners AG (SIX: MOLN; NASDAQ: MOLN), a clinical-stage biotech company developing a novel class of custom-built protein drugs known as DARPin therapeutics (“Molecular Partners” or the “Company”), today announced the presentation of new preclinical data across three posters at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2026.
The first poster outlines preclinical data supporting proof-of-concept for MP0632, a logic-gated Switch-DARPin CD3 T cell engager with CD2 co-stimulation designed to selectively kill cells co-expressing mesothelin (MSLN) and epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM). MP0632 leads to regression of established tumors expressing both EpCAM and MSLN, with minimal impact on tumors expressing only one antigen, indicating a favorable therapeutic window. In addition, the Switch-DARPin candidate allowed for safe use of potent costimulation for efficient tumor cell killing with low cytokine release profile. The data support MP0632’s potential as clinical lead candidate for the treatment of ovarian cancer and other MSLN- and EpCAM-positive solid tumors.
“We are excited to present new data on MP0632, our first logic-gated T cell engager candidate leveraging our Switch-DARPin technology. We designed MP0632 to achieve potent yet safe tumor-localized immune activation through incorporation of CD2 costimulation and through unmasking of the CD3 binder upon binding to two co-expressed tumor antigens – MSLN and EpCAM. We are looking forward to advancing MP0632 and building on the strong preclinical data package, which indicates its potential to make a difference to cancer patients,” said Martin Steegmaier, Ph.D., CSO of Molecular Partners.
The second poster presents a computational workflow to identify and prioritize tumor-associated antigen pairs for improved tumor-selectivity and safety in support of designing novel Switch-DARPin candidates, such as MP0632. This scalable, data-driven platform provides a strong foundation for the discovery of next-generation multispecific immunotherapies. This workflow could also be leveraged for the identification of complementary tumor antigen pairs to address heterogeneous tumors, which could enable the design of next-generation multispecific Radio-DARPin candidates.
The third poster outlines the molecular characteristics of MP0712, the Company’s first 212Pb-based Radio-DARPin candidate, with high affinity binding to DLL3 and optimized half-life extended properties. MP0712’s properties are hypothesized to facilitate sustained tumor uptake through repeated DLL3 internalization-replenishment despite low cell surface density of the target, thereby supporting the attractive biodistribution profile of MP0712 observed in preclinical studies as well as in first patient imaging data from a Named Patient Access Program in South Africa using MP0712 with 203Pb.
MP0712, co-developed with strategic partner Orano Med, is evaluated in an ongoing Phase 1/2a trial in the US for the treatment of patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and other DLL3-expressing neuroendocrine cancers.
Details of the presentations at AACR 2026:
Logic-gated Switch-DARPin T cell engager with CD2 co-stimulation for improved safety and efficacy in MSLN and EpCAM co-expressing ovarian cancer
Session Category: Immunology
Session Title: T Cell Engagers 1
Session Start: 4/20/2026 9:00 AM PT
Session End: 4/20/2026 12:00 PM PT
Location: Poster Section 10
Poster Board Number: 16
Poster Number: 1624
Logic-gated Switch-DARPin–based immune cell engagers guided by data-driven tumor-antigen profiling: A computational workflow for the development of cancer immunotherapies
Session Category: Bioinformatics / Computational Biology / Systems Biology / Convergent Science
Session Title: Application of Bioinformatics to Cancer Biology 3
Session Start: 4/20/2026 2:00 PM PT
Session End: 4/20/2026 5:00 PM PT
Location: Poster Section 1
Poster Board Number: 16
Poster Number: 2691
Molecular characteristics of MP0712, a clinical stage ²¹²Pb-based Radio-DARPin candidate for targeted anti-DLL3 radiotherapy of small cell lung cancer (SCLC)
Session Category: Experimental and Molecular Therapeutics
Session Title: Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals and Combination Strategies in Cancer Therapy
Session Start: 4/22/2026 9:00 AM PT
Session End: 4/22/2026 12:00 PM PT
Location: Poster Section 17
Poster Board Number: 16
Poster Number: 7197
The posters will be made available on Molecular Partners' website after the presentations.
About Molecular Partners AG
Molecular Partners AG (SIX: MOLN, NASDAQ: MOLN) is a clinical-stage biotech company pioneering a novel class of protein drugs known as DARPin therapeutics, for medical challenges other treatment modalities cannot readily address. Molecular Partners leverages the key properties of DARPins to design and develop differentiated therapeutics for cancer patients, including targeted radiopharmaceuticals and next-generation immune cell engagers. The Company has proprietary programs in various stages of pre-clinical and clinical development, as well as programs developed through partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies and academic centers. Molecular Partners, founded in 2004, 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, EVP Corporate Finance
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
This press release contains 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; the expected benefits of the strategic review; and Molecular Partners’ expected business and financial outlook, including anticipated expenses and cash utilization for 2026 and its expectation of its current cash runway. 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, but are not limited to, those set forth in under the heading “Risk Factors” in Molecular Partners’ Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2025 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.
