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Molecular Partners (NASDAQ: MOLN) begins MP0317 Phase 2 TACTIC study

(Neutral)
(Neutral)
Form Type
6-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Molecular Partners reports clinical progress for MP0317, announcing dosing of first patients in the investigator‑initiated, randomized Phase 2 TACTIC proof‑of‑concept study in front‑line advanced biliary tract carcinoma (cholangiocarcinoma). The French multicenter trial plans to enroll 75 patients, with 50 in the experimental arm and 25 in the control arm, testing MP0317 plus standard‑of‑care chemoimmunotherapy (durvalumab plus gemcitabine‑cisplatin) versus standard‑of‑care alone. Nine expert trial sites are activated and patient treatment is ongoing.

MP0317 is described as a FAP‑localized CD40 agonist designed to remodel the tumor microenvironment and is hypothesized to improve 12‑month progression‑free survival compared with standard‑of‑care alone. A data update is expected in 2027, with completion of the study in 2028, and a trial‑in‑progress poster has been accepted for presentation at the ESMO Congress 2026 in Madrid. A completed Phase 1 dose‑escalation study in 46 patients with advanced solid tumors across 9 dose levels showed tumor‑localized CD40 activation and tumor microenvironment remodeling, with results published in Nature Cancer.

Positive

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Planned enrollment 75 patients Target enrollment for the randomized Phase 2 TACTIC trial in France
Experimental arm size 50 patients Patients receiving MP0317 plus standard-of-care in the TACTIC trial
Control arm size 25 patients Patients receiving standard-of-care alone in the TACTIC trial
Active trial sites 9 sites Expert centers activated and recruiting for the TACTIC study
Phase 1 patients treated 46 patients Number of advanced solid tumor patients in the completed MP0317 Phase 1 study
Phase 1 dose levels 9 dose levels Dose-escalation cohorts evaluated in the MP0317 Phase 1 trial
Data update timing 2027 Expected timing for a data update from the TACTIC Phase 2 study
Study completion timing 2028 Expected completion year for the MP0317 TACTIC Phase 2 trial
DARPin therapeutics medical
"developing a novel class of custom-built protein drugs known as DARPin therapeutics"
Darpin therapeutics are medicines built from designed ankyrin repeat proteins — small, engineered proteins crafted to stick to specific molecules involved in disease, much like a custom key fitting a lock. They matter to investors because their compact, stable design can make treatments easier and cheaper to manufacture, allow targeting of multiple disease mechanisms, and may offer faster development paths compared with traditional biologic drugs.
chemoimmunotherapy medical
"MP0317 in combination with chemoimmunotherapy in first line treatment"
Chemoimmunotherapy is a cancer treatment approach that combines drugs that directly kill tumor cells with medicines that boost or guide the patient’s immune system to recognize and attack cancer. For investors, it matters because combining these two approaches can change clinical trial outcomes, regulatory paths, potential sales and pricing, and the risk/reward profile of drug candidates much like adding a second player to a team can improve performance but also complicate strategy and costs.
tumor microenvironment medical
"designed to drive immune-mediated remodeling of the tumor microenvironment"
The tumor microenvironment is the immediate area surrounding a cancer cell, made up of nearby cells, blood vessels, and support structures that influence how the cancer grows and spreads. It functions like a bustling neighborhood that can either help or hinder the tumor’s development. For investors, understanding changes in this environment can signal the effectiveness of treatments and potential shifts in a cancer-related market.
FAP-localized CD40 agonist medical
"MP0317, a FAP-localized CD40 agonist designed to drive immune-mediated remodeling"
progression-free survival medical
"hypothesized to improve 12-month progression-free survival rate of patients"
Progression-free survival is the length of time during and after a treatment that a patient's disease does not get worse, measured from the start of treatment until the disease shows measurable signs of progression or the patient dies. Investors care because longer progression-free survival in clinical trials often signals that a drug is effective, improving chances of regulatory approval, market adoption, and revenue potential—think of it as a stopwatch showing how long a therapy can keep the illness at bay.
investigator-initiated Phase 2 proof-of-concept study medical
"dosing of first patients in an investigator-initiated Phase 2 proof-of-concept study"

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FAQ

What did Molecular Partners (MOLN) announce regarding the MP0317 TACTIC trial?

Molecular Partners announced dosing of the first patients in the randomized Phase 2 TACTIC study of MP0317 for front‑line advanced cholangiocarcinoma, combining MP0317 with standard‑of‑care chemoimmunotherapy and comparing it to standard‑of‑care alone across multiple centers in France.

How is the MP0317 Phase 2 TACTIC trial for MOLN designed and how many patients will it enroll?

The TACTIC study is a randomized, multicenter Phase 2 trial in France aiming to enroll 75 patients. It uses a 2‑to‑1 design, with 50 patients in the experimental arm receiving MP0317 plus standard‑of‑care and 25 patients in the control arm receiving standard‑of‑care alone.

What is the expected timeline for MP0317 Phase 2 TACTIC trial results for Molecular Partners (MOLN)?

A data update from the MP0317 Phase 2 TACTIC trial is expected in 2027, with completion of the study planned for 2028. A trial‑in‑progress poster has also been accepted for presentation at the ESMO Congress 2026 in Madrid.

What is MP0317 and what outcome is it hypothesized to improve in the MOLN TACTIC study?

MP0317 is a FAP‑localized CD40 agonist designed to remodel the tumor microenvironment. In the TACTIC trial, it is hypothesized to improve the 12‑month progression‑free survival rate of patients with advanced cholangiocarcinoma compared with standard‑of‑care treatment alone.

What prior clinical data supports MP0317 for Molecular Partners (MOLN)?

Molecular Partners completed a Phase 1 dose‑escalation study of MP0317 in 46 patients with advanced solid tumors across 9 dose levels. Biomarker analyses showed tumor‑localized CD40 activation and tumor microenvironment remodeling, with results published in the journal Nature Cancer.
 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the month of July 2026

Commission File Number: 001-40488

Molecular Partners AG
(Translation of registrant's name into English)

Wagistrasse 14
8952 Zurich-Schlieren
Switzerland

(Address of principal executive office)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F [ X ]      Form 40-F [   ]

 

 


On July 16, 2026, the Registrant issued a press release, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

(c) Exhibit 99.1. Press release dated July 16, 2026


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

      Molecular Partners AG    
  (Registrant)
   
  
Date: July 16, 2026     /s/ PATRICK AMSTUTZ    
  Patrick Amstutz
  Chief Executive Officer
  

EXHIBIT 99.1

Molecular Partners Announces Clinical Progress in Phase 2 TACTIC Combination Trial of MP0317 for Patients with Cholangiocarcinoma

  • Randomized Phase 2 study in front-line setting progressing well, with nine sites actively recruiting and patient treatment ongoing

  • Data update expected in 2027, with trial completion in 2028

  • Trial-in-progress poster to be presented at ESMO 2026 in October

ZURICH-SCHLIEREN, Switzerland and CONCORD, Mass., July 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR – 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 announces the dosing of first patients in an investigator-initiated Phase 2 proof-of-concept (POC) study of MP0317 in combination with chemoimmunotherapy in first line treatment for patients with advanced biliary tract carcinoma (TACTIC), also known as cholangiocarcinoma.

The randomized, multicenter TACTIC study (NCT07036380) in France aims to recruit 75 patients, with a 2-to-1 design, with 50 patients in the experimental arm and 25 in the control arm. The objective of the study is to assess the clinical benefit of MP0317 combined with standard-of-care (SoC) comprising the immunotherapy durvalumab, an anti-PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor, plus gemcitabine-cisplatin-based chemotherapy, compared to SoC alone in frontline setting.

Nine expert trial sites are now activated and patient treatment is ongoing. A data update from the trial is expected in 2027, and completion of the study in 2028. A trial-in-progress poster on the MP0317 Phase 2 study has been accepted for presentation at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2026, taking place October 23-27 in Madrid, Spain.

"Adding an immune modulating compound with the profile of MP0317 to front-line therapy could offer deeper and longer responses for cholangiocarcinoma patients who are receiving SoC. To date we have treated a number of patients through several cycles, and the study is advancing according to plan. We are highly encouraged by the progress so far and look forward to seeing what improvement in response is possible in these patients. MP0317 holds considerable potential to improve treatment options for patients, and we look forward to updating on trial progress in 2027,” said Prof. Christophe Borg, Head of the Medical Oncology Department at the University Hospital of Besançon and Principal Investigator of the TACTIC study.

“We are proud to support the TACTIC consortium in pursuing this novel treatment for patients with such a dire need for improved therapies. MP0317 has shown proof-of-mechanism in the completed Phase 1 study, with immune-mediated remodeling of the tumor microenvironment. We believe MP0317 could potentiate the effect of SoC for greater patient benefit across several cancer indications, and that combination with immunotherapy and SoC in first line cholangiocarcinoma is an optimal setting to evaluate its activity,” said Philippe Legenne, M.D., CMO of Molecular Partners.

MP0317, a FAP-localized CD40 agonist designed to drive immune-mediated remodeling of the tumor microenvironment (TME), is hypothesized to improve 12-month progression-free survival rate of patients with advanced cholangiocarcinoma compared to SoC alone. The TME is known to play a crucial role in the development of cholangiocarcinoma and other solid tumors, as well as in their treatment resistance.

Molecular Partners completed a Phase 1 dose-escalation study of MP0317 in patients with advanced solid tumors with 46 patients treated across 9 dose levels. Comprehensive biomarker analyses from the trial showed tumor-localized CD40 activation and TME remodeling as intended by design. The results of this Phase 1 study were recently published in Nature Cancer (Steeghs et al. 2026; DOI: 10.1038/s43018-026-01150-1).

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.

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

1 document