Molecular Partners and Orano Med have dosed the first patient in the Phase I/IIa trial assessing MP0712, a delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3)-targeting radio-designed ankyrin repeat protein (DARPin) drug candidate.
The ongoing US multi-centre trial aims to assess the safety and early efficacy of the drug.
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MP0712 is designed to target the tumour-associated DLL3 protein, which is present in more than 85% of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) tumours, carrying a 212Pb therapeutic payload.
Molecular Partners CEO Patrick Amstutz said: “MP0712 is a radio-DARPin designed to attack tumours by specifically leveraging DLL3 biology. With the first patient now in repeat dosing and Cohort I now recruited, we are establishing the clinical safety profile of this novel therapy in real time.
“Working closely with investigators in our trial, we remain on track to report initial study data in 2026, and are also paving the way for other radio-DARPin candidates to move forward.”
Orano Med CEO Frédéric Desdouits said: “The dosing of the first patients in this study marks an important step for Orano Med and our collaboration. It further illustrates the potential of lead-212 to support a broad clinical pipeline of targeted alpha therapies, leveraging its versatility across different vector formats to address a wide range of cancer types.”
The study applies a “matched-pair” approach, pairing diagnostic and therapeutic agents with the same targeting molecule to optimise prediction of tumour uptake.
After an imaging step using 203Pb-labelled MP0712, patients in the trial receive as many as four doses according to assigned cohorts.
The first cohort is active with repeat dosing underway, and up to four dose levels are planned. Five sites are recruiting in the US, with further expansion expected this year.
Comprehensive safety and efficacy findings are projected for 2027.
