On Oct. 28, 2020, Novartis and Molecular Partners announced an option and license agreement to develop, manufacture and commercialize Molecular Partnersﾒ anti-COVID-19 DARPinﾮ program.

Several characteristics of DARPinﾮ therapeutics make them ideally suited for antiviral therapy including multi-specific target binding with the potential to prevent viral escape via mutations, the possibility for subcutaneous administration, long half-life for sustained activity, the potential to bypass cold storage and typically high-yield, highly scalable production in bacterial fermenters.