Expanding the use of its DARPin® (designed ankyrin repeat proteins) biologics platform, Molecular Partners has entered into a research collaboration and licensing deal with Roche to discover, develop and commercialise multiple DARPin-drug conjugates in the field of oncology. DARPins are engineered protein therapeutics that exhibit many of the favourable characteristics of small molecules coupled with antibody-like binding properties. The deal represents the second time that the companies have partnered, following a 2007 collaboration to generate DARPins to various Roche targets, which did not progress into a licensing deal.