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Faron Pharmaceuticals says cancer drug trial group has been expanded

Last updated: 11:58 13 Jan 2020 GMT, First published: 07:58 13 Jan 2020 GMT

Faron Pharmaceuticals Ltd -

Faron Pharmaceuticals Oy (LON:FARN) (NASDAQ-FIRSTNORTH:FARON) shares rose on Monday as it said the data monitoring committee overseeing the phase I/II trial of its cancer drug has approved an expansion of the study into late-stage colorectal cancer.

The MATINS assessment is currently gauging safety and tolerability as well as the efficacy of its Clevegen treatment in people with melanoma, pancreatic, ovarian and colorectal cancer.

The drug, which can switch immune suppression to immune activation, will be administered in a low dose (0.3 milligrams per kilogram) in colorectal patients.

This dose, according to Faron, has been associated with “clinical response and has produced the strongest immune response”.

In a short update on progress, the company also revealed that all doses – 0.1mg/kg to 10mg/kg – had shown “good tolerability with no dose-limiting toxicity signals”.

“The decline in expression of negative immune checkpoint receptors post Clevegen dosing warrants expansion of Clevegen testing in numerous cancer types and therefore we will now ensure a rapid expansion of part II of the MATINS trial to continue investigating the safety and efficacy of Clevegen in various cancer cohort,” said Faron chief executive Markku Jalkanen.

Clevegen is being assessed both as a single therapy and in combination with other existing cancer treatments. With the ability to turn off immune suppression and activate an immune response, there could be applications beyond oncology, the firm reckons.

In late morning trading, Faron Pharma shares were 3.7% higher at 282.50p.

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