Novartis collaborates with Molecular Partners to develop therapies to use against COVID-19
pharmafile | October 28, 2020 | News story | Research and Development |
Novartis and Molecular Partners AG have announced that they will develop, commercialise and manufacture Molecular’s anti-COVID-19 DARPin programme, which consists of two therapeutic candidates so far.
These candidates are MP0420 and MP0423, which are multi-targeted direct-acting antiviral therapeutic candidates that have demonstrated potential efficacy against coronavirus. As part of the collaboration, Novartis have been granted an option to in-license the global rights of both products.
“Novartis remains unwavering in its support for tackling COVID-19 and it is clear that this pandemic calls for not just scientific solutions, but also for collaboration between companies to provide treatments in an area of high unmet need,” commented Vas Narasimhan, Chief Executive Officer of Novartis. “This Swiss led partnership, which could deliver both prophylactic and treatment options at scale for COVID-19 patients across the globe, is another demonstration of our sustained commitment to addressing one of the greatest health challenges of our time.”
There are several characteristics of these DARPin therapies that make them well suited for viruses like COVID-19, such as their multi-specific target binding with a potential to prevent viral escape from mutations. They also have the possibility of subcutaneous administration, long half-life for sustained activity, the potential to bypass cold storage and typically high-yield, highly scalable production in bacterial fermenters.
Patrick Amstutz, Chief Executive Officer of Molecular Partners, said: “Our team rapidly mobilized to deliver a unique DARPin-based approach to address the overwhelming need for effective therapeutics against COVID-19. As a class, DARPins have demonstrated over years of clinical research a number of characteristics that enhance their profile as antiviral therapeutics for a global pandemic. We have built on this long-term research with these two candidates, which have demonstrated extremely potent neutralization of the virus through inhibiting multiple viral mechanisms.”
Conor Kavanagh
