Periodic Reporting for period 2 - MAGIF (Faron leading the way in macrophage guided immunotherapy)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2021-10-01 do 2022-09-30
Cancer continues to be a devastating, lethal disease with enormous economic impact and high need for new treatments. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world. In 2020 there were nearly 10 million deaths due to cancer. The burden of cancer is growing, with a 18 million new cases every year. The annual global economic impact of cancer was last estimated to be an astonishingly high. Cancer burden to society can be reduced through appropriate treatment and care of patients who develop cancer. Faron’s objective is to develop and bring to the market a safe and effective first line precision cancer treatment for previously treatment resistant cancer types. Faron’s approach will bring a new solution at a crucial time when problems with existing IO treatments have been identified.
Faron has successfully progressed the first-in-human MATINS clinical trial, which is the heart of the MAGIF project. Patient recruitment started as planned and has proceeded even during the COVID-19 pandemic according to plans. Over 200 patients have been recruited in MATINS trial by the end of September 2022 (before the start of part II, 30 patients were recruited in MATINS part I). In Business Development and Partnering Faron have identified possible licensing partners and conducted preliminary discussions with several companies. According to the project plan, Faron have set up tools (e.g. data room) to conduct these discussions and due diligence with selected companies. In Communication Faron have designed and implemented a total makeover of the company website and branding package. Faron have created and published the EIC accelerator website. The corporate presentation has been completely redesigned and rewritten. Faron has been invited to present the project results in ESMO 2021, AACR 2022, ASCO 2022 as well as smaller cancer specific congresses. The latest clinical data has been well received by the industry and peers, and gained both industry and public news coverage.
Faron’s scientific approach is advantageous in comparison to the current immuno-oncology treatments, because suitable patients can be identified for the treatment using biomarkers, and the treatment offers a solution to remove immunosuppressive elements in otherwise poorly responsive tumour types, allowing advancement in the field beyond the state-of the art. The results from the MATINS trial so far have supported Faron’s original development strategy and, also opened new opportunities both within the MATINS trial and additional cancer types. The expected result of the project will allow Faron to move into Phase III development.