Detailed Analysis of BEXMAB Data Provides Insights into Patient Profiles of Responding HMA-Failed MDS Population

TURKU, Finland and BOSTON, Jan. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faron Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (AIM: FARN, First North: FARON), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pursuing a CLEVER approach to reprogramming myeloid cells to activate anti-tumor immunity in hematological and solid tumor microenvironments, today provided details from its further analysis of data from the completed Phase 1 part of the ongoing BEXMAB trial.

Patients are currently being enrolled in the Phase 2 of the BEXMAB trial, which is evaluating the safety and efficacy of investigational immunotherapy bexmarilimab at two dose levels (Project Optimus part), in combination with standard of care (SoC), in patients with hypomethylating agents (HMAs)-refractory or -relapsed myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), an aggressive myeloid leukemia with very few treatment options.

The new analysis of data from the Phase 1 part of the trial explores the 100% overall response rate (ORR) achieved among both the higher-risk frontline and HMA-failed MDS patients treated with a bexmarilimab/azacitidine combination – 5 out of 5 patients in each population – and examines previous therapies in the patients’ treatment pathways.

In the HMA-failed MDS patient group:

• Patients had been previously treated with azacitidine monotherapy or combinations of up to four therapies that included azacitidine or decitabine + magrolimab, venetoclax and sabatolimab
• 3 of the 5 patients were refractory to previous HMA-therapy, with progressive disease (PD) or stable disease (SD) being the best responses achieved from that therapy
• 2 out of the 5 patients had relapsed after treatment with azacitidine or an azacitidine/venetoclax combination
  

“This analysis shows the deep and durable responses that can be achieved with bexmarilimab in combination with standard of care, in MDS patients who are refractory to HMA therapy or who have relapsed on HMA therapy or HMA/venetoclax combination therapy,” said Dr. Markku Jalkanen, Chief Executive Officer of Faron. “Patients with high-risk MDS who have failed HMA therapy face a poor prognosis and median overall survival in refractory MDS is just 4-6 months with no viable treatment options. Yet here we have data showing that patients are surpassing anticipated survival rates and maintaining remission. It is remarkable to see patients going into remission with bexmarilimab/azacitidine after showing disease progression on all the leading azacitidine combinations such as venetoclax, sabatolimab and magrolimab. These are highly significant findings that provide us with continued confidence in the potential of bexmarilimab to provide better patient outcomes and improve the quality of life of those suffering from these aggressive conditions.”

An updated corporate deck now contains these data and is available on the Company’s website.

For more information please contact:

Investor Contact
LifeSci Advisors
Daniel Ferry
Managing Director
[email protected]
+1 (617) 430-7576

Media Contact
ICR Consilium
Mary-Jane Elliott, David Daley, Lindsey Neville
Phone: +44 (0)20 3709 5700
E-mail: [email protected]

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

About BEXMAB

The BEXMAB study is an open-label Phase 1/2 clinical trial investigating bexmarilimab in combination with standard of care (SoC) in the aggressive hematological malignancies of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The primary objective is to determine the safety and tolerability of bexmarilimab in combination with SoC (azacitidine) treatment. Directly targeting Clever-1 could limit the replication capacity of cancer cells, increase antigen presentation, ignite an immune response, and allow current treatments to be more effective. Clever-1 is highly expressed in both AML and MDS and associated with therapy resistance, limited T cell activation and poor outcomes.

About Bexmarilimab

Bexmarilimab is Faron's wholly owned, investigational immunotherapy designed to overcome resistance to existing treatments and optimize clinical outcomes, by targeting myeloid cell function and igniting the immune system. Bexmarilimab binds to Clever-1, an immunosuppressive receptor found on macrophages leading to tumor growth and metastases (i.e. helps cancer evade the immune system). By targeting the Clever-1 receptor on macrophages, bexmarilimab alters the tumor microenvironment, reprogramming macrophages from an immunosuppressive (M2) state to an immunostimulatory (M1) one, upregulating interferon production and priming the immune system to attack tumors and sensitizing cancer cells to standard of care.

About Faron Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Faron (AIM: FARN, First North: FARON) is a global, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, focused on tackling cancers via novel immunotherapies. Its mission is to bring the promise of immunotherapy to a broader population by uncovering novel ways to control and harness the power of the immune system. The Company’s lead asset is bexmarilimab, a novel anti-Clever-1 humanized antibody, with the potential to remove immunosuppression of cancers through reprogramming myeloid cell function. Bexmarilimab is being investigated in Phase I/II clinical trials as a potential therapy for patients with hematological cancers in combination with other standard treatments. Further information is available at www.faron.com.

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