Last checked at 24 Apr 2023 07:00
Faron Pharmaceuticals Oy
("Faron or the Company")
Faron Announces Release of Research Confirming Bexmarilimab Efficacy and Safety in MATINS Trial
· Macrophage targeting can promote tumor stabilization in late-stage cancer
· Bexmarilimab-induced macrophage activation with robust stimulation of IFN-γ and T-cell receptor signaling only in patients with disease control
· Data confirms that bexmarilimab therapy is well-tolerated
Press Release, April 24, 2023
TURKU, FINLAND / BOSTON, MA - Faron Pharmaceuticals Oy (AIM: FARN, First North: FARON), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on tackling cancers via novel immunotherapies, today announces the release of further insights from its Phase I/II MATINS study, validating the efficacy and safety of the Company's wholly owned immunotherapy, bexmarilimab, in solid tumors.
The manuscript, which is available here, indicates that macrophage conversion, and changes in the tumor microenvironment leading to disease control and prolonged survival in late-stage cancer, is achieved with bexmarilimab monotherapy, and that targeting CLEVER-1 with bexmarilimab is well-tolerated. CLEVER-1 is an immunosuppressive receptor on macrophages leading to tumor growth and metastases.
Bexmarilimab is a humanized anti-CLEVER-1 antibody that primes the immune system to attack tumors.
In addition to these findings, the manuscript indicates that low baseline immune activation is associated with bexmarilimab which converts intratumoral macrophages to support adaptive immune responses.
"We are very pleased to see that bexmarilimab is well-tolerated and has promising antitumor activity as a single agent in late-stage solid tumors," said Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Maija Hollmén. "This manuscript brings together clinical safety and efficacy data with in-depth analyses of tumor biopsies and systemic inflammatory responses. Excitingly, it reinforces the evidence that macrophage conversion in the tumor takes place after bexmarilimab administration and coincides with treatment benefit."
For more information please contact:
Media Contact
Faron Pharmaceuticals
Jennifer Smith-Parker
Head of Communications
Jennifer.Smith-Parker@faron.com
Investor Contact
Faron Pharmaceuticals
Julia Balanova
VP, Investor Relations
julia.balanova@faron.com
investor.relations@faron.com
Phone: +1 (917) 306-6096
Cairn Financial Advisers LLP, Nomad
Sandy Jamieson, Jo Turner
Phone: +44 (0) 207 213 0880
Peel Hunt LLP, Broker
Christopher Golden, James Steel
Phone: +44 (0) 20 7418 8900
Sisu Partners Oy, Certified Adviser on Nasdaq First North
Juha Karttunen
Phone: +358 (0)40 555 4727
Jukka Järvelä
Phone: +358 (0)50 553 8990
Consilium Strategic Communications
David Daley, Lindsey Neville, Renna Foufouni
faron@consilium-comms.com
Phone: +44 (0)20 3709 5700
About Bexmarilimab
Bexmarilimab is Faron's wholly owned, investigational immunotherapy with the potential to provide immune stimulation for treatment-resistant cancers through targeting myeloid cell function. A novel anti-CLEVER-1 humanized antibody, bexmarilimab targets CLEVER-1 positive (Common Lymphatic Endothelial and Vascular Endothelial Receptor 1) tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in the tumor microenvironment, converting highly immunosuppressive M2 macrophages to immune-stimulating M1 macrophages. As an immuno-oncology therapy, bexmarilimab has therapeutic potential in combination with other standard treatments including immune checkpoint molecules in both solid tumors and hematologic malignancies.
About MATINS
MATINS has demonstrated a positive safety profile in more than 200 patients treated with bexmarilimab. The study has observed an approximate 30% clinical benefit rate in several tumor types, which is associated with an interferon gamma (IFN-y) increase and leads to a significant survival benefit. Moreover, responding patients can be potentially identified using baseline IFN-y or CLEVER-1 expression. CLEVER-1 is a novel immune checkpoint, a receptor shown to promote an immunosuppressive environment.
About Faron Pharmaceuticals Oy
Faron Pharmaceuticals Oy (AIM: FARN, First North: FARON), together with its subsidiaries, is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical group focused on building the future of immunotherapy by harnessing the power of the immune system to tackle cancer. Bexmarilimab, a novel anti-CLEVER-1 humanized antibody, is its investigational immunotherapy with the potential to remove immunosuppression of cancers through targeting myeloid cell function. Bexmarilimab is being investigated in Phase I/II clinical trials as a potential therapy for patients with hematological and solid cancers in combination with other standard treatments including immune checkpoint molecules. Faron is headquartered in Turku, Finland. Further information is available at www.faron.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
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