Detailed Analysis of BEXMAB Data Provides Insights into Patient Profiles of Responding HMA-Failed MDS Population

TURKU, Finland and BOSTON, Jan. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faron Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (AIM: FARN, First North: FARON), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pursuing a CLEVER approach to reprogramming myeloid cells to activate anti-tumor immunity in hematological and solid tumor microenvironments, today provided details from its further analysis of data from the completed Phase 1 part of the ongoing BEXMAB trial.

Patients are currently being enrolled in the Phase 2 of the BEXMAB trial, which is evaluating the safety and efficacy of investigational immunotherapy bexmarilimab at two dose levels (Project Optimus part), in combination with standard of care (SoC), in patients with hypomethylating agents (HMAs)-refractory or -relapsed myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), an aggressive myeloid leukemia with very few treatment options.

The new analysis of data from the Phase 1 part of the trial explores the 100% overall response rate (ORR) achieved among both the higher-risk frontline and HMA-failed MDS patients treated with a bexmarilimab/azacitidine combination – 5 out of 5 patients in each population – and examines previous therapies in the patients’ treatment pathways.

In the HMA-failed MDS patient group:

• Patients had been previously treated with azacitidine monotherapy or combinations of up to four therapies that included azacitidine or decitabine + magrolimab, venetoclax and sabatolimab
• 3 of the 5 patients were refractory to previous HMA-therapy, with progressive disease (PD) or stable disease (SD) being the best responses achieved from that therapy
• 2 out of the 5 patients had relapsed after treatment with azacitidine or an azacitidine/venetoclax combination
  

“This analysis shows the deep and durable responses that can be achieved with bexmarilimab in combination with standard of care, in MDS patients who are refractory to HMA therapy or who have relapsed on HMA therapy or HMA/venetoclax combination therapy,” said Dr. Markku Jalkanen, Chief Executive Officer of Faron. “Patients with high-risk MDS who have failed HMA therapy face a poor prognosis and median overall survival in refractory MDS is just 4-6 months with no viable treatment options. Yet here we have data showing that patients are surpassing anticipated survival rates and maintaining remission. It is remarkable to see patients going into remission with bexmarilimab/azacitidine after showing disease progression on all the leading azacitidine combinations such as venetoclax, sabatolimab and magrolimab. These are highly significant findings that provide us with continued confidence in the potential of bexmarilimab to provide better patient outcomes and improve the quality of life of those suffering from these aggressive conditions.”