Faron Pharmaceuticals Oy has announced the appointment of Dr. Petri Bono as the new Chief Medical Officer (CMO), effective from August 15th. Dr. Bono brings a wealth of experience, having previously served in leadership positions at Terveystalo, the largest private healthcare service provider in Finland, and Helsinki University Hospital. His expertise in oncology trials and research in molecular and immunological oncology makes him well-suited to support Faron's immuno-oncology program, particularly in the development of bexmarilimab, Faron's investigational immunotherapy designed to overcome resistance to existing treatments and optimize clinical outcomes.
Dr. Bono expressed his enthusiasm for developing Faron's immunotherapy program, stating, "Bexmarilimab is an exceptional asset. It is an industry-leading agent in macrophage re-programming and has wide applicability in the treatment of a variety of cancers." Faron's CEO, Dr. Juho Jalkanen, welcomed Dr. Bono's appointment, emphasizing the strengthening of the company's capabilities in solid tumors and hematological malignancies. Dr. Birge Berns, the acting CMO seconded from tranScrip Ltd., will continue to play a vital role in shaping Faron's development and regulatory strategy.
Faron's bexmarilimab study is an open-label Phase 1/2 clinical trial investigating the drug in combination with standard of care in aggressive hematological malignancies. The primary objective is to determine the safety and tolerability of bexmarilimab in combination with standard of care treatment. Bexmarilimab targets Clever-1, an immunosuppressive receptor found on macrophages, and aims to reprogram macrophages from an immunosuppressive state to an immunostimulatory one, priming the immune system to attack tumors and sensitizing cancer cells to standard of care.
Faron Pharmaceuticals Ltd. is a global, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on tackling cancers via novel immunotherapies. Their mission is to bring the promise of immunotherapy to a broader population by uncovering novel ways to control immune mechanisms.