Indicate by check mark whether the registrant
files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
The first nine paragraphs of the press release
attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1, other than the eighth paragraph, are hereby incorporated by reference into the registrant’s Registration
Statements on Form S-8 (File Nos. 333-227753,
333-271384 and 333-278525)
and Form F-3 (File Nos. 333-236064,
333-274316, 333-262055,
333-276000 and 333-281872),
to be a part thereof from the date on which this report is submitted, to the extent not superseded by documents or reports subsequently
filed or furnished.
On February 17, 2026, Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd.
issued a press release entitled “Can-Fite Announces Scientific Breakthrough Publication Demonstrating Anti-Obesity Effect of Namodenoson”.
A copy of this press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1.
Pursuant to the requirements
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized.
Exhibit 99.1
Can-Fite
Announces Scientific Breakthrough Publication Demonstrating Anti-Obesity Effect of Namodenoson
Namodenoson’s Favorable Safety Profile
and Broad Patent Portfolio Positions it as a Promising Candidate in the Growing Obesity Treatment Market
Ramat Gan, Israel, Feb. 17, 2026 (GLOBE
NEWSWIRE) -- Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE American: CANF) (TASE: CANF), a clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing a pipeline
of proprietary small molecule drugs addressing oncological and inflammatory diseases, today announced the publication of a
peer-reviewed study in the International Journal of Obesity demonstrating the anti-obesity effect of namodenoson, the
Company’s lead drug candidate.
The article, titled “The anti-obesity
effect of namodenoson, an A3 adenosine receptor agonist,” is now available online as an Open Access publication (https://rdcu.be/e37sf).
The study evaluated the effects of namodenoson in adipocytes (3T3-L1
fat cells) in vitro and in a murine high-fat diet model of obesity. The findings are consistent with previously reported data from a Phase
IIa clinical study in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), in which treatment with namodenoson for three
months was associated with reductions in liver fat and body weight. A Phase IIb MASH study is currently enrolling patients and is designed
to evaluate effects on inflammation, fibrosis, steatosis, and body weight.
Namodenoson has demonstrated a favorable safety profile across preclinical
and clinical studies and is protected by a broad patent portfolio.
The publication reports that namodenoson significantly inhibited adipocyte
proliferation and lipid droplet accumulation in a dose-dependent manner. In the high-fat diet model, daily oral administration of namodenoson
for four weeks resulted in a statistically significant reduction in weight gain compared to placebo-treated controls.
Mechanistically, namodenoson was shown to modulate key molecular pathways
involved in adipogenesis and inflammation. Treatment upregulated adiponectin, a hormone associated with improved metabolic regulation,
and suppressed PI3K, NF-κB, Akt, and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways, suggesting a multi-pathway metabolic mechanism.
Namodenoson is currently in advanced clinical development for MASH.
The newly published findings expand its potential therapeutic profile into obesity — a rapidly growing global market with substantial
unmet need.
Pnina Fishman, Ph.D., Chairperson and Chief Scientific Officer of Can-Fite,
stated: “This publication provides the first evidence that namodenoson directly targets adipocyte biology and reduces weight gain
in a high-fat diet model. Importantly, the effect is mediated through well-defined molecular pathways, including suppression of adipogenic
transcription factors and induction of adiponectin. These findings support further evaluation of namodenoson as a potential oral treatment
for obesity and related metabolic disorders.”
The global obesity treatment market is projected
to reach $60.5 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 22%, driven by increasing disease prevalence
and demand for safe, effective oral therapies.
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 Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatohepatitis (MASH),
and in 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 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 and is expected to commence a pivotal Phase III. Can-Fite’s liver drug,
Namodenoson, is being evaluated in a Phase III trial for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a Phase IIb trial for the treatment of MASH,
and in a Phase IIa study in pancreatic 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 1,600 patients in clinical
studies to date. For more information please visit: https://www.canfite.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 any resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war
between Israel and Hamas; 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 April 14, 2025 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.
Contact
Can-Fite BioPharma
Motti Farbstein
info@canfite.com
+972-3-9241114
