Faron Pharmaceuticals Limited (AIM:FARN, OTC:FPHAF) said data from its early phase clinical trial showed patients taking its cancer drug enjoyed a significantly higher survival rate than those who didn’t receive it.
Bexmarilimab was used on multiple different tumour types to assess both its safety and efficacy in the MATINS study designed to assess different dosing regimens.
The median overall survival rate of those participating in parts I and II of the evaluation and receiving the treatment was 14.9 months. This compared with 4.4 months for those who weren’t administered bexmarilimab.
Researchers found the Faron treatment induced a significant systemic interferon-gamma increase. This was indicative of it being able to activate an immune response in people with cancer, even those with cold tumours, that tend not to be susceptible to current immune-oncology drugs, Faron said.
Scientists also found that Bexmarilimab was well tolerated – even at higher dose levels, or where the frequency of administration was increased.
The highest clinical benefit was observed at 1 milligram per kilogram with weekly and three-weekly administration, investors were told. However, a clinical benefit was seen across all doses, the company added.
"Bringing the promise of immunotherapy to more cancer patients starts with the ability to identify which patients are likely to benefit from specific treatments," said Dr Markku Jalkanen, Faron’s chief executive in a statement.
"We now have a clear understanding of which patients benefit from bexmarilimab treatment and can identify them using a validated staining antibody, which can be widely accessible and adapted to routine practice," he added.
Bexmarilimab is being developed as a treatment that can be used on its own to treat solid tumours and as a combination therapy that may be coupled with checkpoint inhibitor drugs that often provide a waning benefit months after the first administration.