On track to report topline efficacy and safety data in April 2025

TURKU, FINLAND - Faron Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (AIM: FARN, First North: FARON), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on tackling cancers via novel immunotherapies, today announces that, the final patient has been identified for the BEXMAB Phase II dose optimization study in refractory or relapsed myelodysplastic syndrome (r/r MDS), as well as the BEXMAB Phase I/II study in frontline high risk (HR) MDS. The topline response rate read out is thus expected to become available in April 2025. Detailed data will be presented later at upcoming major medical conferences. The reportable data set will consist of approximately 35 r/r MDS patients and 20 frontline HR MDS patients. The r/r MDS population will consist of 32 patients treated with either 3mg/kg or 6mg/kg dose of bexmarilimab per the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Project Optimus guidance, and three r/r MDS patients treated with 1mg/kg dose of bexmarilimab in Phase I. A similar split between doses will be reported concerning the frontline HR MDS population.

“Achieving this milestone for our lead program, BEXMAB, in r/r MDS and frontline HR MDS, reflects not only our team’s strength in executing on the Company’s drug development strategy, but also the urgent unmet medical need for patients with this difficult to treat cancer,” stated Petri Bono, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer. “Backed by recently released Phase II Interim Results confirming the superior profile of bexmarilimab versus current treatment options, we remain highly confident about the potential of bexmarilimab to become an important new best-in-class treatment for MDS patients.”

The BEXMAB Phase II Interim results presented at the 66th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting on December 2024 showed a high objective response rate (ORR) at 80% (16/20). Similar size patient cohorts treated with existing alternatives have reported 0-20% ORR, without deep and durable remissions. Previously reported estimated median overall survival of the 20 r/r MDS patients were 13.4 months compared to the 5-6 months that would typically be expected under standard of care historically.

The BEXMAB trial will continue enrolling CMML patients and there is also the possibility to expand the enrollment of r/r MDS patients under the current protocol. The Company is assessing expanding the enrollment of r/r MDS patients in order to have this treatment option available for patients and to strengthen the data set for upcoming regulatory purposes.

“Our BEXMAB Phase II trial has progressed as planned and our focus now is to take this the data to the FDA and fine tune the registrational approach with the agency. We are committed to rapidly advancing bexmarilimab through clinical development, to bring it to treatment resistant MDS patients as soon as possible,” said Dr. Juho Jalkanen, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer. “I want to express my sincere gratitude to all the stakeholders working on the BEXMAB trial, especially our hardworking employees, study site professionals and investigators, but most of all the patients and their loved ones.”

For more information please contact:
ICR Healthcare
Mary-Jane Elliott, David Daley, Lindsey Neville
Phone: +44 (0)20 3709 5700
E-mail: faron@consilium-comms.com

Cairn Financial Advisers LLP, Nomad
Sandy Jamieson, Jo Turner
Phone: +44 (0) 207 213 0880

Peel Hunt LLP, Broker
Christopher Golden, James Steel
Phone: +44 (0) 20 7418 8900

Sisu Partners Oy, Certified Adviser on Nasdaq First North
Juha Karttunen
Phone: +358 (0)40 555 4727
Jukka Järvelä
Phone: +358 (0)50 553 8990

About BEXMAB

The BEXMAB study is an open-label Phase I/II clinical trial investigating bexmarilimab in combination with standard of care (SoC) in the aggressive hematological malignancies of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The primary objective is to determine the safety and tolerability of bexmarilimab in combination with SoC (azacitidine) treatment. Directly targeting Clever-1 could limit the replication capacity of cancer cells, increase antigen presentation, ignite an immune response, and allow current treatments to be more effective. Clever-1 is highly expressed in both AML and MDS and associated with therapy resistance, limited T cell activation and poor outcomes.

About bexmarilimab

Bexmarilimab is Faron's wholly owned, investigational immunotherapy designed to overcome resistance to existing treatments and optimize clinical outcomes, by targeting myeloid cell function and igniting the immune system. Bexmarilimab binds to Clever-1, an immunosuppressive receptor found on macrophages leading to tumor growth and metastases (i.e. helps cancer evade the immune system). By targeting the Clever-1 receptor on macrophages, bexmarilimab alters the tumor microenvironment, reprogramming macrophages from an immunosuppressive (M2) state to an immunostimulatory (M1) one, upregulating interferon production and priming the immune system to attack tumors and sensitizing cancer cells to standard of care.

About Faron Pharmaceuticals Ltd

Faron (AIM: FARN, First North: FARON) is a global, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, focused on tackling cancers via novel immunotherapies. Its mission is to bring the promise of immunotherapy to a broader population by uncovering novel ways to control and harness the power of the immune system. The Company’s lead asset is bexmarilimab, a novel anti-Clever-1 humanized antibody, with the potential to remove immunosuppression of cancers through reprogramming myeloid cell function. Bexmarilimab is being investigated in Phase I/II clinical trials as a potential therapy for patients with hematological cancers in combination with other standard treatments. Further information is available at www.faron.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this announcement are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as ''believe'', ''could'', "should", "expect", "hope", "seek", ''envisage'', ''estimate'', ''intend'', ''may'', ''plan'', ''potentially'', ''will'' or the negative of those, variations or comparable expressions, including references to assumptions. These forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but rather on the Directors' current expectations and assumptions regarding the Company's future growth, results of operations, performance, future capital and other expenditures (including the amount, nature and sources of funding thereof), competitive advantages, business prospects and opportunities. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Directors' current beliefs and assumptions and are based on information currently available to the Directors.
 
A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results and expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. In addition, other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially include the ability of the Company to successfully license its programs within the anticipated timeframe or at all, risks associated with vulnerability to general economic and business conditions, competition, environmental and other regulatory changes, actions by governmental authorities, the availability of capital markets or other sources of funding, reliance on key personnel, uninsured and underinsured losses and other factors. Although any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are based upon what the Directors believe to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Subject to any continuing obligations under applicable law or any relevant AIM Rule requirements, in providing this information the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any of the forward-looking statements or to advise of any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.