Faron Pharma right in middle of fight against cancer and Coronavirus

Faron is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel treatments for medical conditions with significant unmet needs. The company currently has a pipeline based on the receptors involved in regulation of immune response in oncology and organ damage. Clevegen (bexmarilimab), its investigative precision immunotherapy in phase I/II development as a novel macrophage checkpoint immunotherapy for patients with untreatable solid tumours, is a novel anti-Clever-1 antibody with the ability to switch immune suppression to immune activation. Traumakine, the company’s investigational intravenous interferon beta-1a is a strong anti-viral and anti-inflammatory agent, currently being tested in several Phase III studies around the world against COVID-19. Faron is based in Turku, Finland.

(, ) said latest data from a phase I/II study of its cancer treatment bexmarilimab “strengthen our belief” it can increase survival in patients with a variety of late-stage solid tumours.

The updated results from the MATINS trial will be shared with delegates at the European Society for Medical Oncology later Friday in what’s called a proffered paper.

The audience will be told that median progression-free survival for those receiving Faron’s bexmarilimab was 59 days, while overall survival was 151 days.

A total of 83% of those who received three courses of treatment that achieved disease control rate status were still alive beyond six months.

(, ) has confirmed that further clinical trials of its lead cancer asset will get underway in the fourth quarter after it showed “compelling antitumour activity” in multiple solid forms of the disease earlier in the process.

Bexmarilimab, which is undergoing phase I/II evaluations, is being developed as an immunotherapy candidate for hard-to-treat forms of the disease.

(, ) Oy (First North:FARON) said researchers had begun dosing its first patient as part of a phase II/III trial of its lead asset in people fighting the effects of Covid.

Traumakine is an intravenous Interferon beta-1a that is also being developed for acute respiratory distress syndrome, severe kidney injury, cardiac protection and the prevention of solid organ transplant failure.

Faron Pharmaceuticals Oy () is enjoying momentum with its project pipeline as its COVID-19 candidate Traumakine has just received the green light to enter the final stage of trials in the US.

The Finnish drugmaker will test it on people who have been hospitalised but do not yet need ventilation and have not received corticosteroids.

The research team at broker Peel Hunt believes there is a role for intravenous interferon beta-1a (IFN beta-1a) treatments of the type being pioneered by Faron Pharmaceuticals () as a frontline approach for the effects of Covid.

The commentary followed on from the news that Faron has begun dosing patients for a phase II/III study to assess the efficacy of its IFN beta-1a formulation, Traumakine, in patients with the illness.

The asset is also being developed by Faron for the potential treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome, severe kidney injury and cardiac protection.

(, ) (AIM:FARN, ) () chief executive Dr Markku Jalkanen joins Proactive London’s Katie Pilbeam about the latest on its lead cancer asset Bexmarilimab and Traumakine, their acute respiratory distress syndrome and their financial position.

He confirms that the Bexmarilimab asset further trials will get underway in the fourth quarter and is being developed as an immunotherapy candidate for hard-to-treat forms of the disease.

Their half year results revealed company ended the six months to June 30 with EUR7.0mln in the bank and the firm posted a deficit for the period. The operating loss was EUR10.4mln.