Molecular Partners Appoints Martin Steegmaier as Chief Scientific Officer to Drive Next-Gen DARPin Therapeutics.

Molecular Partners appoints Martin Steegmaier as Chief Scientific Officer to drive the discovery of next-generation DARPin therapeutics. Steegmaier has extensive experience in oncology drug development from senior roles at Roche, MorphoSys, Boehringer Ingelheim, and SOTIO Biotech. He will lead the research organization and advance the company's pipeline of targeted DARPin therapeutics for cancer patients.

Molecular Partners AG, a clinical-stage biotech company specializing in the development of DARPin therapeutics, has appointed Martin Steegmaier, Ph.D., as its new Chief Scientific Officer (CSO). Steegmaier will join the company on October 1, 2025, and will be a member of the Executive Committee. His appointment aims to bolster Molecular Partners' efforts in developing innovative cancer therapies.

Steegmaier brings a wealth of experience in oncology drug development, having held senior roles at major biotech and pharmaceutical companies such as Roche, MorphoSys, Boehringer Ingelheim, and most recently SOTIO Biotech. His extensive background includes leading research at MorphoSys, focusing on antibody-based therapeutics in immuno-oncology and hematology-oncology. At Roche, he served as Head of Discovery for the Large Molecule Research organization, and at Boehringer Ingelheim, he was involved in oncology drug discovery.

Molecular Partners, founded in 2004, is pioneering the design and development of DARPin therapeutics for medical challenges that other drug modalities cannot readily address. The company's focus is on oncology, with a pipeline that includes Radio-DARPins and Switch-DARPins for logic-gated immune cell activation. Steegmaier's expertise in developing large molecules at Roche and other organizations is directly relevant to the advancement of Molecular Partners' DARPin platforms and pipeline.

In a statement, Patrick Amstutz, Ph.D., CEO of Molecular Partners, said, "We are delighted to welcome Martin Steegmaier to Molecular Partners. His extensive expertise in oncology, business, and leadership will provide further impetus to our efforts to deliver unique cancer therapies."

Steegmaier, who holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Basel and an MBA from the Edinburgh Business School, expressed his enthusiasm for joining Molecular Partners. "I am pleased to join the exceptional team at Molecular Partners and to contribute to pioneering the cutting-edge DARPin therapeutics," he said. "I have built up considerable experience in oncology over my career, which is directly relevant to the advancement of Molecular Partners’ exciting DARPin platforms and pipeline. I am looking forward to working with the team and to driving forward the next generation of DARPin therapeutics for patients with high unmet need."

Molecular Partners' recent positive data from a Phase 1/2a trial of MP0533, a tetraspecific T-cell engager in relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML), further supports the company's commitment to advancing targeted DARPin therapeutics. The trial showed acceptable safety profiles and promising clinical responses, with 3 of 8 evaluable patients achieving a clinical response after the first cycle [2].

References:
[1] https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/08/21/3136829/0/en/Molecular-Partners-appoints-Martin-Steegmaier-as-Chief-Scientific-Officer-to-drive-discovery-of-next-gen-DARPin-therapeutics.html
[2] https://www.andorratechmonitor.com/article/821265014-molecular-partners-presents-positive-data-from-ongoing-phase-1-2a-trial-of-mp0533-in-aml-at-eha-2025