Faron Pharmaceuticals Limited (AIM:FARN) CEO Dr Juho Jalkanen described the latest data read-out from its lead asset as' remarkable'.
Specifically, he was referring to the overall response rate (ORR) to bexmarilimab, which increased as the number of patients added to the latest clinical trial expanded.
The drug is being developed to treat myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a blood-borne cancer, and in this instance was administered to people with the advanced form of the disease.
On the potential efficacy of the treatment, Jalkanen observed: "It is remarkable seeing the ORR continuing to be so strong even as the patient population grows, as it would typically be expected to settle at a lower level."
"For patients, I believe these results are truly exciting as we take another step closer to providing an additional option for their poorly met treatment needs. With our repeatedly strong data, we are very much looking forward to our continuing discussions with regulatory agencies and partner candidates."
Digging into the results from the phase II BEXMAB study, patients in the trial experienced an estimated median overall survival of 13.4 months, more than double the usual 5-6 months associated with standard care.
The treatment has been well tolerated, with no serious toxicity observed so far.
The evaluation is focused on patients with relapsed or refractory MDS who have failed to benefit from hypomethylating agents (HMA).
Among the 20 people treated with a combination of Faron’s bexmarilimab and azacitidine, 80% showed a positive response.
This is a significant improvement compared to typical outcomes with existing treatments, where response rates are often between 0% and 20%.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Petri Bono called the results a major step forward for a patient group with few options.
He highlighted the potential of bexmarilimab to deliver deep and durable responses and confirmed that Faron plans to discuss the findings with health authorities in 2025.
The study is ongoing, with full recruitment expected by early 2025, and further data will be released later that year. These findings offer hope for patients with limited treatment options for this aggressive form of blood cancer.
The results will be presented at the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting in December.