Faron enters deal with Abzena for the manufacture of Clevegen

Finland-based biopharma company Faron Pharmaceuticals, which is listed in London (AIM: FARN), and UK-based Abzena (AIM: ABZA) have entered into an agreement whereby Abzena will manufacture Clevegen, a novel therapeutic antibody being developed by Faron to reduce immune suppression in cancer.

Clevegen may also have the potential to be used in other situations where there is an inadequate immune response, such as in chronic infections or during vaccination.

Clevegen was humanized by Abzena using its Composite Human Antibody technology. Under the agreement with Faron, Abzena will produce the Master Cell Bank and manufacture the antibody for clinical development under current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) conditions. This is the first product produced using Abzena’s humanization technology that will also be manufactured by Abzena following its acquisition of PacificGMP in San Diego, USA, in September 2015 to expand its manufacturing offering to Phase I and II clinical studies.