The clinical-stage biotech Molecular Partners has announced that it has entered into an agreement with Eckert & Ziegler, a leading specialist in isotope-related components for nuclear medicine and radiation therapy, to facilitate the development and manufacturing of Radio-DARPin therapeutics.
"We are pleased to work with Eckert & Ziegler, a global leader in radiopharmaceutical manufacturing," said Alexander Zürcher, COO of Molecular Partners.
"This agreement will expand the potential of Radio-DARPins as vectors for precise delivery of therapeutic alpha-emitting isotopes to tumours, now including Actinium-225, in addition to Lead-212 through our long-term strategic partnership with Orano Med."
The promise of Radio-DARPins is underlined by the progress of our lead candidate MP0712, targeting DLL3, having just opened the Phase I/IIa trial for the treatment of patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
Under a non-exclusive agreement, Eckert & Ziegler will provide Molecular Partners with a comprehensive range of services related to the development of Radio-DARPins that utilise Actinium-225 (225Ac) and Lutetium-177 (177Lu) payloads.
The new development agreement will use Eckert & Ziegler's advanced laboratories, including the newly established Alpha Laboratory in Berlin, Germany, which is dedicated exclusively to working with alpha emitters.
Molecular Partners says it is expanding its Radio-DARPin pipeline by evaluating various radio-nuclides to customise Radio-DARPin candidates for patient needs.
This involves aligning vector and isotope properties with the biology of the target and the disease.
The company added that it plans to present pre-clinical data on the suitability of Radio-DARPins with multiple isotopes at the Third Global Radiopharmaceuticals Development Summit, which will be held in March 2026 in Shanghai, China.
"Supporting highly innovative companies such as Molecular Partners in developing their promising technology platforms is a key objective of our group," said Dr Harald Hasselmann, CEO of Eckert & Ziegler.
Bringing together our expertise in isotopes, radiochemistry and development infrastructure with our partners' innovations will enable patients worldwide to benefit from new treatments in the future.