A special feature for World Cancer Day 2025, highlighting the groundbreaking work of small biotech companies like Faron Pharmaceuticals in revolutionizing cancer care.
Every year, World Cancer Day brings renewed hope, solidarity, and a collective call to action. This year's theme, United by Unique, is more than just a slogan; it is a crying rally for a paradigm shift in how cancer is understood, treated, and managed. At the heart of this shift is the growing recognition that every cancer, like every individual, is unique. This year, the theme emphasizes the need for health systems worldwide to adopt a people-centered approach tailored to the intricate complexities of each patient and their disease.
In this spirit of innovation and individuality, small pharmaceutical companies are proving to be the unsung heroes of cancer research. Companies like Faron Pharmaceuticals, a Finnish biotech firm led by CEO Juho Jalkanen, are driving advancements in immune profiling, personalized treatments, and innovative therapies that challenge traditional approaches.
Traditional cancer treatments often rely on aggressive, toxic therapies designed to attack the disease broadly. However, these treatments can be physically devastating and sometimes ineffective, especially for rare and treatment-resistant cancers. "Cancers are not just rogue cells in a particular organ. They are living organisms with their own microenvironment, defense mechanisms, and ways of evading the immune system," explains Dr. Jalkanen.
However, the cancer care industry is now shifting focus to the tumor's unique immune profiling, which analyzes the immune characteristics of tumors and is revolutionizing the way treatments are developed and administered. Even Dr. Jalkanen agrees to it. "Each tumor is unique, with its own immune profile, and understanding these nuances is critical to developing effective treatments. Patients should no longer have to endure toxic therapies that offer little benefit. The future lies in therapies tailored to the individual biology of both the patient and their cancer," he says. That is why this year's Cancer Day theme resonates with Faron Pharmaceuticals, according to Dr. Jalkanen, as it mirrors the progress they're making in the industry. The CEO affirms, "Through immune profiling, we can categorize cancers based on how they interact with the immune system, which allows us to develop drugs that are more precise, effective, and less harmful."
At the forefront of this movement is Faron's lead drug candidate, bexmarilimab (bex), a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting Clever-1. This receptor, found on certain macrophages within tumors, plays an important role in shielding cancer cells from the immune system. By binding to Clever-1, bex "reprograms" macrophages from an immunosuppressive to an immunostimulatory state, enabling the immune system to recognize and attack the tumor.
The results have been remarkable. In a Phase II trial for relapsed refractory myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), an aggressive treatment-resistant form of leukemia, bex achieved an 80% response rate. These findings, presented at the 66th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting in December 2024, generated excitement across the industry. "This is a turning point," says Dr. Jalkanen. "Our only goal is to offer patients a real chance at survival."
Small biotech firms like Faron are not only advancing treatments but also challenging the status quo. Unlike most larger pharmaceutical companies that often rely on one-size-fits-all solutions, small biotechs are nimble and innovative, focusing on personalized approaches. "Big pharma has its role, but the agility of smaller companies allows us to lead in areas like immune profiling and targeted therapies," admits Dr. Jalkanen. "We work closely with diagnostic companies to understand tumors at a molecular level, which ensures that treatments are specific to the patient's needs."
Dr. Jalkanen even points to the industry's experience with CAR T-cell therapy as an example. CAR T treatments involve engineering a patient's T cells to target specific cancer antigens. While highly effective for certain blood cancers, the approach has struggled to expand into solid tumors due to their intricate microenvironments and resistance mechanisms. "Solid tumors are incredibly complex," explains Dr. Jalkanen. "They have their own defense systems, making it difficult for therapies like CAR T to work effectively. But this challenge also underscores the importance of continuous innovation in the healthcare ecosystem. At Faron, we're focused on addressing these complexities through novel approaches."
Clearly, the message of World Cancer Day 2025 is that no two cancers are alike, and no two patients are the same. And for Dr. Jalkanen, the theme resonates deeply. "Uniqueness isn't just a challenge—it's an opportunity," he says. "By embracing the complexity of cancer, we can create treatments that are as unique as the patients we serve. It's a new era in oncology, and it's one we're proud to be part of, serving one patient at a time."
