Can-Fite Broadens its Strong Intellectual Property (IP) for Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH): Received Patent Allowance in Canada

PETACH TIKVA, Israel — Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE American: CANF) (TASE:CANF), a biotechnology company advancing a pipeline of proprietary small molecule drugs that address oncological and inflammatory diseases, today announced it received a Notice of Allowance from the Canadian Intellectual Property Office for its patent application titled “An A3 Adenosine Receptor Ligand For Use In Treating Ectopic Fat Accumulation”. This invention addresses the use of Namodenoson for the reduction of liver fat in patients with NASH a clinical indication that is being developed by Can-Fite. In a successfully concluded Phase IIa study, Namodenoson, one of the Company’s two drugs in advanced clinical development, reduced liver fat content, showed anti-inflammatory effects manifested by a significant decrease in the liver enzymes ALT & AST, and decreased body weight in patients with NASH. A Company-sponsored study for Namodenoson for this indication is currently enrolling patients for a Phase IIb study which will include 140 patients, in whom liver pathology is the primary endpoint.

Can-Fite’s Namodenoson, is currently out-licensed for the treatment of NASH to the Swiss company Ewopharma for territories in Eastern Europe, to CMS China for the territories of China, HK and Macau, and to the South Korean company CKD for the territory of South Korea. The Company also has a distribution agreement in Canada for its anti-inflammatory drug, Piclidenoson, for the treatment of psoriasis.

“This additional patent in Canada for fatty liver disease adds to our growing IP estate for this high-value indication of the Namodenoson drug candidate. Our strong and broad IP, together with the positive data from the Phase IIa and the drug safety, position it as a promising candidate for the treatment of this liver disease,” stated Dr. Ilan Cohn, Can-Fite founder, a recognized business development expert in the medical arena, and also a leading Israeli patent attorney and Partner & co-Founder of Cohn, de Vries, Stadler & Co, Patent and Trademark Attorneys.

The NASH market is expected to reach $24 billion by 2028. According to the American Liver Foundation, between 30-40% of adults in the U.S. have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, one of the most common causes of liver disease in the U.S. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis affects up to 5% of Americans, or up to 16 million people and is expected to be most frequent reason for liver transplants in the U.S. by 2030.

 

About Namodenoson

Namodenoson is a small orally bioavailable drug that binds with high affinity and selectivity to the A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR). Namodenoson is currently being evaluated in a pivotal Phase III trial for advanced liver cancer, a Phase IIb trial for the treatment of steatotic liver disease (SLD), and the Company is planning a Phase IIa study in pancreatic cancer. A3AR is highly expressed in diseased cells whereas low expression is found in normal cells. This differential expression may be one of the important factors that accounts for the excellent safety profile of the drug.

 

About Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd.

Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE American: CANF) (TASE: CANF) is an advanced clinical stage drug development Company with a platform technology that addresses multi-billion dollar markets in the treatment of cancer, liver, and inflammatory disease. One of the two Company’s lead drug candidates, Piclidenoson recently reported positive topline results in a Phase III trial for psoriasis. A pivotal Phase III for this drug is expected to commence soon. Can-Fite’s other lead drug for treating cancer and liver diseases, Namodenoson, is being evaluated in a Phase IIb trial for the treatment of steatotic liver disease (SLD), a Phase III pivotal trial for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and the Company is planning a Phase IIa study in pancreatic cancer. Namodenoson has been granted Orphan Drug Designation in the U.S. and Europe for its HCC indication and Fast Track Designation as a second line treatment for HCC by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Namodenoson has also shown proof of concept to potentially treat other cancers including colon, prostate, and melanoma. CF602, the Company’s third drug candidate, has shown efficacy in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Piclidenoson and Namodenoson have an excellent safety profile with experience in over 1,600 patients in clinical studies to date.