Tag: Monopar Therapeutics Stock

Monopar Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: MNPR) shares have experienced a remarkable rise, jumping 199.57% to $13.87 in response to a major corporate development. The spike in MNPR stock follows announcement of a significant licensing agreement with Alexion, AstraZeneca’s Rare Disease division.

Exclusive License for ALXN-1840

Monopar (MNPR) revealed that it has secured an exclusive worldwide license for ALXN-1840, a drug candidate developed for Wilson disease. Under the direction of Alexion, the medication met its primary aim and successfully finished a Phase 3 clinical trial.

Monopar will be solely in charge of the medication’s future worldwide development and marketing initiatives. This agreement signals a critical step for Monopar as it broadens its portfolio and takes on a promising treatment for a rare but severe disease.

CEO’s Long-Standing Involvement with Wilson Disease Research

The CEO and co-founder of Monopar, Chandler D. Robinson, MD, has a special connection to ALXN-1840. The basis for the creation of ALXN-1840 was established by his early studies on tetrathiomolybdate, the main ingredient in the medication, which were published in “Science”.

Robinson’s deep involvement with the Wilson disease community has been notable. In 2013, he delivered the keynote speech at the Wilson Disease Association’s Annual Conference, highlighting his contributions to advancing ALXN-1840 from a lab experiment to a viable treatment option.

Revival of the ALXN-1840 Program

Despite Alexion’s decision to halt the ALXN-1840 program in 2023 after reviewing Phase II mechanistic trials, Robinson’s connection to the Wilson disease community reignited interest in the drug. Patients, physicians, and key figures from the Wilson Disease Association approached MNPR, encouraging the company to pursue the drug’s rights.

Monopar’s choice to get the license was heavily influenced by the testimonies of clinical trial participants who claimed notable advantages from the medication.

Strategic Alliance with AstraZeneca and Alexion

As per the terms of the deal, Monopar will pay Alexion cash and shares up front, with further payments contingent on sales and regulatory milestones. This partnership not only strengthens MNPR’s position in the rare disease space but also aligns it with AstraZeneca’s radiopharma expertise, enhancing its growth potential in that field.

Monopar Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: MNPR) stock is experiencing a substantial surge this morning, driven by the announcement of promising early data from an ongoing clinical trial. As of the latest market update, MNPR stock soared 77.85% to trade at $4.27 per share.

Monopar Shared Breakthrough findings in Tumor Targeting

Monopar disclosed positive initial findings from its open-label MNPR-101-Zr Phase 1 imaging and dosimetry clinical trial. This trial has shown MNPR-101-Zr’s ability to effectively target tumors in people. The urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), which is often expressed in a variety of aggressive malignancies is the target of Monopar’s patented humanized monoclonal antibody, MNPR-101.

MNPR Demonstrating Efficacy Through Advanced Imaging

In the trial, a total-body positron emission tomography (PET) scan was performed 168 hours (7 days) post-administration of MNPR-101-Zr on a patient with a high uPAR-expressing cancer type. The results indicated that MNPR-101-Zr demonstrated a high degree of specificity, durability, and uptake in metastatic tumors compared to normal tissue. Notably, the regions of higher uptake corresponded with previously identified metastatic sites observed through conventional FDG PET imaging.

Comparative Analysis with FDG Imaging

The performance of MNPR-101-Zr was evaluated against FDG, the current gold standard in detecting metastatic tumors. Both MNPR-101-Zr and FDG were assessed using the same Siemens Biograph Vision Quadra PET/CT scanner at the Melbourne Theranostic Innovation Centre, one of the world’s most sensitive PET/CT scanning facilities.

The findings revealed that MNPR-101-Zr effectively targeted known disease sites and demonstrated retention at these sites over an extended period, suggesting promising potential for future therapeutic applications.

Upcoming Clinical Trials and Data Presentations

Monopar recently obtained clearance in Australia to commence an MNPR-101-Lu Phase 1 therapeutic clinical trial, slated to begin in the fourth quarter of this year. Additionally, Monopar will present further data at the European Association of Nuclear Medicine 2024 Annual Congress in Hamburg, Germany, where its abstract has been selected as a ‘Top-Rated Oral Presentation’ in the Scientific Program.