Faron Pharmaceuticals
Ltd.
("Faron"
or "the Company")
Pipeline Update:
Targeting Soluble Clever-1 for Autoimmune
Diseases
Press release, 11 November 2024
TURKU, FINLAND - Faron
Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (AIM: FARN, First North: FARON), a
clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on tackling
cancers and inflammation via novel immunotherapies, today announces
the filing of a patent application around the use of soluble
Clever-1 for inactivating T-cells and the treatment of autoimmune
diseases and inflammatory disorders. The related manuscript can be
read here https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.10.23.619796v1,
which explains how soluble Clever-1 inactivates T-cells and makes
anti-PD-1 based therapies ineffective in cancer. The key highlights
of these findings are the following:
•
Clever-1-positive macrophages and endothelial
cells secrete a soluble form of Clever-1;
•
Soluble Clever-1 binds activated T-cells and
impairs their differentiation into anti-tumor effectors;
•
The Company and its researchers have identified
the part of Clever-1 that binds to T-cells and inactivates them; and
•
The submitted patent application covers use of
soluble Clever-1 or fragments of it to inactivate T-cells for the
treatment of autoimmune diseases and inflammatory
disorders.
The next phase for the Company is to take the
identified part of soluble Clever-1 and design the optimal drug
composition with the desired characteristics for treating
autoimmune diseases. The Company will in due course elucidate this
new addition to its pipeline in more detail to expand the pipeline
beyond hematological cancers and solid tumor oncology.
"Clever-1 is a master regulator of
the immune system. Through decades of pivotal research and our deep
understanding of Clever-1 and its role in human biology we have now
shown how it inactivates T-cells, drives immune tolerance, and may
render anti-PD-1 based immune checkpoint therapies ineffective. In
addition, we now have an understanding on how we can use this to
our advantage in the treatment of unwanted inflammation where
T-cells need to be inactivated. This lays the basis for a new class
of drugs to treat autoinflammatory diseases", says Dr. Maija
Hollmén CSO of Faron Pharmaceuticals.
For
more information please contact:
ICR Healthcare
Mary-Jane Elliott, David Daley, Lindsey
Neville
Phone: +44 (0)20 3709 5700
E-mail: faron@icrhealthcare.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.