Faron Founders and bexmarilimab Developers Selected as Finalists for the European Inventor Award 2024

• Dr. Markku Jalkanen and Dr. Sirpa Jalkanen, Faron’s co-founders, have been nominated as one of three finalists in the ‘SMEs’ category of prestigious European Patent Office Awards
• Nominated in recognition of research developing bexmarilimab, an investigational immunotherapy optimising clinical outcomes in cancer treatment
• Voting now open for “Popular Prize” award ahead of ceremony on July 9 via dedicated link: Sirpa Jalkanen and Markku Jalkanen | Epo.org
  

TURKU, Finland and BOSTON, May 16, 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 announces the nomination of its co-founders, Dr. Markku Jalkanen and Dr. Sirpa Jalkanen, as finalists in the ‘SMEs’ category of the European Inventor Award 2024.

Dr. Markku Jalkanen, co-founder, Board member and former CEO of Faron, and Dr. Sirpa Jalkanen, co-founder and member of Faron’s Scientific Advisory Board, have been nominated in recognition of their research developing Faron’s wholly owned precision cancer immunotherapy candidate, bexmarilimab. One of the most advanced myeloid cell-targeting immunotherapy candidates in development, bexmarilimab is designed to target the Clever-1 receptor present on macrophages, activating anti-tumor immunity in hematological and solid tumor microenvironments to overcome resistance and provide better patient outcomes.

Bexmarilimab is currently being investigated in the ongoing BEXMAB trial, evaluating the candidate’s safety and efficacy 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.

In addition, every year, the public can vote for their favorite inventor: the Popular Prize goes to the shortlisted inventor with the most votes. The winners in each category, and the winner of the Popular Prize, will be announced at the online award ceremony on 9 July 2024. For further information and to vote for the Popular Prize, visit: Sirpa Jalkanen and Markku Jalkanen | Epo.org

Dr. Markku Jalkanen, Board member and former CEO of Faron, said: “It is an honor to be recognized by the European Patent Office and nominated for this prestigious award. The continued progress of our ambitious bexmarilimab development program and the exceptional data we are seeing in the ongoing Phase I/II BEXMAB trial, reaffirms our belief in the potential of bexmarilimab to change the treatment paradigm. These highly significant findings provide us with continued confidence that bexmarilimab can improve the quality of life of those suffering from these aggressive hematological cancers, where there are limited options available for future therapy.”