Can-Fite: Namodenoson Significantly Inhibits Pancreatic Cancer in Preclinical Studies—A Patent Has Been Filed

Rhea-AI Summary

Can-Fite BioPharma (NYSE: CANF) announced that its anti-cancer drug, Namodenoson, exhibits significant inhibition of pancreatic carcinoma growth, both alone and in combination with gemcitabine, the standard chemotherapy. These pre-clinical studies highlighted Namodenoson's excellent safety profile and potential effectiveness against pancreatic cancer, a disease with a bleak 11% 5-year survival rate in the U.S. The company has filed a patent application for Namodenoson aimed at treating this aggressive cancer. The global pancreatic cancer therapeutics market was valued at approximately $3.6 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow significantly by 2030.

Positive

• Namodenoson shows significant anti-cancer effects against pancreatic carcinoma as a monotherapy and additive effects with gemcitabine.
• The drug has an excellent safety profile and has cleared cancer in a liver cancer patient for 6 years post-treatment.
• Patent application filed for Namodenoson's use in treating pancreatic cancer.

Negative

• None.

• Data show significant anti-cancer effect in pancreatic carcinoma as a monotherapy and an additive effect when combined with gemcitabine, the standard-of-care chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer
• Namodenoson’s excellent safety profile and its ability to directly inhibit the growth of pancreatic tumors present its potential as an effective drug for the treatment of this devastating disease which has a 5-year survival rate of only 11% in the U.S.
• Can-Fite has filed a patent application that covers the use of Namodenoson for the treatment of pancreatic cancer

PETACH TIKVA, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE American: CANF) (TASE: CANF), a biotechnology company advancing a pipeline of proprietary small molecule drugs that address inflammatory, cancer and liver diseases, today announced that its anti-cancer drug Namodenoson significantly inhibits the growth of pancreatic carcinoma as a stand-alone treatment. In combination with the leading chemotherapy used in pancreatic cancer, gemcitabine, Namodenoson demonstrated a significant additive effect. These pre-clinical studies were conducted on advanced pancreatic carcinoma patient cells. Namodenoson’s molecular mechanism of action in pancreatic cancer involves the regulation of the NF-κB /IκB /STAT3-mediated pathway.

Namodenoson is currently being evaluated in a pivotal Phase III study in advanced liver cancer and has completely cleared cancer in an advanced liver cancer patient who remains cancer-free 6 years after starting treatment.

“Following Namodenoson’s successful results in advanced liver cancer, we continue to develop our oncology drug for the treatment of additional aggressive tumors including pancreatic cancer. There is a dire need for a safe and effective treatment for patients with pancreatic carcinoma where Namodenoson has an advantage due to its protective effects on the cardiovascular system, liver, and bone marrow,” stated Can-Fite CEO Dr. Pnina Fishman “Our pre-clinical Namodenoson studies in pancreatic cancer, combined with the clinical data from liver cancer, may open the door for an effective and safe treatment in this devastating disease which accounts for nearly a half-million diagnoses and deaths each year.”

Based on these findings, Can-Fite has filed a patent application that covers the use of Namodenoson for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

The highest incidence rates for pancreatic cancer are in Asia, Europe, and North America. According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), in 2020, an estimated 496,000 people were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer globally and an estimated 466,000 died from the disease. The 5-year survival rate for people with pancreatic cancer in the U.S. is 11%. Acumen Research estimates the global pancreatic cancer therapeutics market was valued at approximately $3.6 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow to approximately $6.6 billion 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 was evaluated in Phase II trials for two indications, as a second line treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma, and as a treatment for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). A3AR is highly expressed in diseased cells whereas low expression is found in normal cells. This differential effect 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 is designed to address multi-billion dollar markets in the treatment of cancer, liver, and inflammatory disease. The Company's lead drug candidate, Piclidenoson recently reported topline results in a Phase III trial for psoriasis. Can-Fite's liver drug, Namodenoson, is being evaluated in a Phase IIb trial for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and enrollment is expected to commence in a Phase III trial for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer. Namodenoson has been granted Orphan Drug Designation in the U.S. and Europe 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. These drugs have an excellent safety profile with experience in over 1,500 patients in clinical studies to date. For more information please visit: www.can-fite.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements, about Can-Fite’s expectations, beliefs or intentions regarding, among other things, its product development efforts, business, financial condition, results of operations, strategies or prospects. All statements in this communication, other than those relating to historical facts, are “forward looking statements”. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “should” or “anticipate” or their negatives or other variations of these words or other comparable words or by the fact that these statements do not relate strictly to historical or current matters. Forward-looking statements relate to anticipated or expected events, activities, trends or results as of the date they are made. Because forward-looking statements relate to matters that have not yet occurred, these statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Can-Fite’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include, among other things, our history of losses and needs for additional capital to fund our operations and our inability to obtain additional capital on acceptable terms, or at all; uncertainties of cash flows and inability to meet working capital needs; the initiation, timing, progress and results of our preclinical studies, clinical trials and other product candidate development efforts; our ability to advance our product candidates into clinical trials or to successfully complete our preclinical studies or clinical trials; our receipt of regulatory approvals for our product candidates, and the timing of other regulatory filings and approvals; the clinical development, commercialization and market acceptance of our product candidates; our ability to establish and maintain strategic partnerships and other corporate collaborations; the implementation of our business model and strategic plans for our business and product candidates; the scope of protection we are able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering our product candidates and our ability to operate our business without infringing the intellectual property rights of others; competitive companies, technologies and our industry; risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine; risks related to not satisfying the continued listing requirements of NYSE American; and statements as to the impact of the political and security situation in Israel on our business. More information on these risks, uncertainties and other factors is included from time to time in the “Risk Factors” section of Can-Fite’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on March 24, 2022 and other public reports filed with the SEC and in its periodic filings with the TASE. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Can-Fite undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable securities laws.

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Can-Fite BioPharma

Motti Farbstein

info@canfite.com

+972-3-9241114

Source: Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd.

FAQ

What were the results of Can-Fite's studies on Namodenoson for pancreatic cancer?

Can-Fite's studies indicate that Namodenoson significantly inhibits pancreatic carcinoma growth as a standalone treatment and has additive effects when combined with gemcitabine.

What is the significance of the 5-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer in relation to Namodenoson?

The 5-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer is only 11% in the U.S., highlighting the urgent need for effective treatments like Namodenoson.

What future plans does Can-Fite have for Namodenoson?

Can-Fite plans to further develop Namodenoson as a treatment for pancreatic cancer and has filed a patent application covering its use.

What is the market outlook for pancreatic cancer therapeutics?

The global pancreatic cancer therapeutics market is projected to grow from approximately $3.6 billion in 2021 to about $6.6 billion by 2030.