Faron Pharmaceuticals
Ltd.
("Faron"
or the "Company")
Faron Announces Traumakine
Research Collaboration and DoD Grant
Press release, 13 August 2024 at 7:00 a.m. BST / 9:00 a.m.
EEST
TURKU, Finland - Faron
Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (AIM: FARN, First North: FARON), a
clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with its lead immune
oncology program bexmarilimab, also pursuing induction
of CD73 for organ protection, announces it has joined a research
consortium that has received a Department of Defense (DoD) Grant to
investigate the use of intravenous interferon beta
(TraumakineÒ) for
the prevention of ischemia-reperfusion injury in battlefield
victims when using a lifesaving torniquet
for the prevention of excessive blood loss. The Study is named
Resuscitation by Endothelial
Stabilization and Targeted Oxygen Rescue (RESTOR) Platform for
Battlefield Applications. Participating institutions
are Duquesne University School of Pharmacy and Wake Forest Medical University Health
Sciences.
As previously investigated under
another DoD grant by the same team, TraumakineÒ was highly effective for limb
salvage and prevention of systemic inflammation and organ damage
when given at the time of placing the torniquet, but not when given
later. In the current setting TraumakineÒ will be investigated when given as a
preventative treatment prior to placing the torniquet, simulating a
situation where operational units going into a mission would be
pre-treated with TraumakineÒ
before going into combat where injury could result
in the need for a torniquet. The aim of
TraumakineÒ in this
setting would be to improve survival and limb salvage by
attenuating ischemia-reperfusion injury if a torniquet was
needed.
If the results of these upcoming
pre-clinical experiments are positive, this could open an avenue
for approval without extensive human clinical studies. In
conditions where controlled clinical studies cannot be conducted, a
drug could be approved by using pre-clinical studies simulating the
intended use. As a widely used and well tolerated drug with a large
amount of human exposure, interferon beta could potentially qualify
as such a drug. Previous examples of such approvals also relate to
defense, where the investigational drug cannot be tested in humans
in the desired indication, but is proven to be safe in man while
the efficacy is proven based on the mode of action and pre-clinical
studies.
"We are very pleased to see the
DoD's continued support to this research group and the
TraumakineÒ
program. From our learnings from previous clinical
trials with TraumakineÒ, we envision that the best outcomes
with intravenous interferon beta can be achieved when the drug is
used for the prevention, and not necessarily treatment, of systemic
inflammation and organ damage. RESTOR is a
pilot study to test TraumakineÒ
in this preventative setting, and paid by the DoD,
but if positive, it could bolster Traumakine'sÒ path to market in this setting, and
the Company should consider investing further into the program or
find a partner for it." said Dr. Juho Jalkanen, Chief Executive
Officer of Faron.
For more information on research
collaboration, please visit: Duquesne
Receives New $1.5 Million Grant to Expand Transplantation
Research
For
more information please contact:
Investor Contact
Media Contact
ICR
Consilium
Mary-Jane Elliott, David Daley,
Lindsey Neville
Phone: +44 (0)20 3709
5700
E-mail: faron@consilium-comms.com
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 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.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this
announcement are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking
statements. Forward looking statements are identified by their use
of terms and phrases such as ''believe'', ''could'', "should",
"expect", "hope", "seek", ''envisage'', ''estimate'', ''intend'',
''may'', ''plan'', ''potentially'', ''will'' or the negative of
those, variations or comparable expressions, including references
to assumptions. These forward-looking statements are not based on
historical facts but rather on the Directors' current expectations
and assumptions regarding the Company's future growth, results of
operations, performance, future capital and other expenditures
(including the amount, nature and sources of funding thereof),
competitive advantages, business prospects and opportunities. Such
forward-looking statements reflect the Directors' current beliefs
and assumptions and are based on information currently available to
the Directors.
A number of factors could cause
actual results to differ materially from the results and
expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements, many of
which are beyond the control of the Company. In addition, other
factors which could cause actual results to differ materially
include the ability of the Company to successfully license its
programs within the anticipated timeframe or at all, risks
associated with vulnerability to general economic and business
conditions, competition, environmental and other regulatory
changes, actions by governmental authorities, the availability of
capital markets or other sources of funding, reliance on key
personnel, uninsured and underinsured losses and other factors.
Although any forward-looking statements contained in this
announcement are based upon what the Directors believe to be
reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that
actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking
statements. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on forward-looking statements. Subject to any continuing
obligations under applicable law or any relevant AIM Rule
requirements, in providing this information the Company does not
undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any of the
forward-looking statements or to advise of any change in events,
conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is
based.