Molecular Partners to Pitch DARPin Future at J.P. Morgan Conference

ZURICH-SCHLIEREN, Switzerland – December 18, 2025 – Clinical-stage biotech firm Molecular Partners is set to take the stage at the 44th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in January, a move that places its novel therapeutic platform under the intense scrutiny of the global investment community. The company announced today that CEO Patrick Amstutz will present its latest developments and strategic outlook for 2026, a presentation that will be closely watched by investors and industry peers alike.

For a company like Molecular Partners, which is pioneering a new class of protein drugs called DARPin therapeutics, this is more than a routine update. It is a critical opportunity to articulate the value of its science and the potential of its pipeline, particularly within the fiercely competitive oncology space. The presentation, scheduled for January 15, comes at a time when the broader biotech sector is seeing a resurgence in dealmaking, with large pharmaceutical companies actively seeking innovative assets to replenish their pipelines.

The J.P. Morgan Gauntlet: A High-Stakes Pitch

The J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference is the industry's premier event, serving as a catalyst for major investments, strategic partnerships, and mergers and acquisitions. For clinical-stage companies, a compelling presentation can significantly boost visibility, attract funding, and validate a technology platform in the eyes of a discerning audience. The stakes are high, and the pressure to deliver a clear, data-backed vision for growth is immense.

Analysts currently hold a mixed, largely neutral stance on Molecular Partners' stock (NASDAQ: MOLN), making this presentation a pivotal moment to shift market sentiment. While the company reports a healthy cash runway projected to last into 2028, translating its scientific promise into tangible shareholder value remains the central challenge. The presentation will be a key test of management's ability to outline a convincing path forward, highlighting clinical milestones, commercial strategy, and the strategic importance of its high-profile collaborations with industry giants like Orano Med, Novartis, and AbbVie.

Beyond Antibodies: The Promise of DARPin Therapeutics

At the core of Molecular Partners' strategy is its proprietary DARPin technology. DARPins, or Designed Ankyrin Repeat Proteins, represent a distinct class of therapeutics engineered to overcome some of the inherent limitations of traditional monoclonal antibodies. Unlike large, complex antibodies, DARPins are small, highly stable proteins. This small size allows for superior tissue and tumor penetration, while their robustness enables the creation of highly versatile drug formats.

The key advantage of the DARPin platform lies in its modularity. Scientists can link multiple DARPins together to create multi-specific drugs that can engage several targets simultaneously. This allows for a level of precision and functionality that is difficult to achieve with conventional antibodies, opening the door to novel mechanisms of action. For example, a multi-specific DARPin can be designed to bind to a tumor cell with one arm and recruit an immune cell with another, creating a highly localized and potent anti-cancer effect. This approach aims to maximize efficacy while minimizing the systemic side effects that often plague cancer therapies.

A Pipeline Aimed at Intractable Cancers

The JPM presentation is expected to spotlight significant progress across Molecular Partners' oncology pipeline, which leverages the unique advantages of the DARPin platform.

A central focus will likely be the company's burgeoning radiopharmaceutical portfolio, developed in partnership with Orano Med. The lead candidate, MP0712, is a Radio-DARPin therapeutic (RDT) targeting DLL3, a protein highly expressed in aggressive cancers like small-cell lung cancer. By attaching a potent alpha-emitting radioisotope (Lead-212) from Orano Med to a highly specific DARPin, MP0712 is designed to deliver a lethal dose of radiation directly to cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. With first-in-human trials expected to begin in 2025 following promising preclinical data, this program represents a near-term value driver and a foothold in the red-hot radioligand therapy market. The collaboration was recently expanded to include a second RDT candidate, MP0726, which targets mesothelin, a well-known cancer antigen, with clinical development planned for 2026.

Beyond radiopharmaceuticals, the company is advancing MP0533, a first-in-class, tetra-specific T-cell engager for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). This complex molecule uses an avidity-driven mechanism, binding to three different targets on AML cells to ensure it activates T-cells to kill cancer cells with high specificity. Updated data from its ongoing Phase 1/2a trial presented in December 2025 showed clinical benefit and an acceptable safety profile, suggesting the platform can generate highly differentiated T-cell engagers for hematological malignancies.

Further showcasing the platform's versatility is the Switch-DARPin program. This next-generation technology creates logic-gated immune activators that only turn 'on' in the presence of two distinct tumor antigens. Preclinical data has demonstrated this approach can drive T-cells to kill only the target cancer cells, potentially solving the 'on-target, off-tumor' toxicity that limits many powerful immunotherapies. This forward-looking platform represents a key part of Molecular Partners' long-term strategy to develop safer and more effective cancer treatments.

Navigating Market Headwinds and Analyst Scrutiny

Despite its deep pipeline and innovative science, Molecular Partners faces the same headwinds as many of its clinical-stage peers: the long, expensive, and uncertain path to commercialization. The company's presentation will need to address not just the science but the business, reassuring investors that its strategic partnerships and strong cash position are sufficient to navigate the journey ahead.

The expanded collaboration with Orano Med is a powerful endorsement of the DARPin platform's potential in the highly competitive radiopharmaceutical space. Similarly, ongoing collaborations with Novartis and AbbVie provide external validation and non-dilutive capital. These partnerships de-risk the development process and provide access to global manufacturing and commercialization expertise.

As CEO Patrick Amstutz prepares to detail the company's 2026 outlook, the audience will be listening for concrete timelines, upcoming clinical data catalysts, and a clear articulation of how Molecular Partners will carve out a leadership position in the next generation of protein therapeutics. The presentation in San Francisco will be a crucial barometer for the company's trajectory, determining if its intricate science can capture the imagination and capital of a market hungry for true innovation in oncology.