Faron Pharmaceuticals Ltd (LON:FARN) is expanding the scope of the research and development activities carried out on Clevegen, which is designed to use the body’s own immune system to tackle cancer.
The company is coupling the pre-clinical drug candidate with its newly-developed tumour immunity enabling technology (TIET).
In doing so it will extend the range of indications for the treatment, which may also be used in harness with the new breed of immune checkpoint molecules.
TIET could significantly enhance lymphocyte activation programmes, potentially making them more effective in their fight against cancer cells.
Last month Faron filed patents that have opened up other new avenues for Clevegen.
Researchers will now target conditions where removal of suppression of local or systemic immunity is desirable.
Chief executive Markku Jalkanen said: "We have made significant progress with Clevegen this spring, culminating in development of the new TIET technology platform.
“We will intensify our efforts in commercialising the TIET technology globally while also initiating our own cancer treatment programme.”
The company is holding an R&D day on June 14 to showcase Clevegen and its other developments.
Faron was granted €1.5mln funding from Tekes, the Finnish funding agency for innovation, in December to progress the preclinical development of Clevegen.
Founded by serial entrepreneur Jalkanen, and based in Turku, Finland, the company’s flagship drug is Traumakine, a breakthrough for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).