PETACH TIKVA, Israel,
Sept. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd.
(NYSE MKT: CANF) (TASE: CFBI), a biotechnology company advancing a
pipeline of proprietary small molecule drugs that address cancer
and inflammatory diseases, today announced the United States Patent
and Trademark Office has issued a patent to the Company which
covers its drug candidate, CF102, in the treatment of liver
regeneration and function following liver surgery. The issued
patent # 8,846,635 is titled, "Method for inducing hepatocyte
proliferation and uses thereof." Can-Fite has recently been granted
a patent for this technology in Japan and the European Union.
CF102 is now entering Phase II trials for the treatment of
hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common form of liver cancer in
the U.S., Europe and Israel. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
has granted Orphan Drug Status to Can-Fite's CF102 for this
indication and Israel's Ministry
of Health has approved CF102 for Compassionate Use in liver
cancer.
"The treatment of post-surgery liver function is an indication
that would complement our current portfolio of indications in
clinical trials. CF102 may offer important healing benefits for the
liver not only to cancer patients, but also for patients who have
other diseases or injuries of the liver," stated Can-Fite CEO
Pnina Fishman.
In preclinical studies, CF102 has induced proliferation of
hepatocytes following liver resection (surgery), increased liver
weight and reduced elevated levels of serum liver enzymes,
reflecting improved liver status. In patients with preexisting
liver diseases, such as cirrhosis or cancer, normal hepatocellular
proliferation following injury is impaired, exposing patients to
liver dysfunction and associated complications that can lead to
liver failure and death.
Can-Fite's intellectual property portfolio consists of 150
issued and pending patents worldwide. Additional patents relating
to induction of hepatocyte proliferation and uses thereof are
pending in several other markets, including Israel.
About CF102
CF102 is a small orally bioavailable drug that binds with high
affinity and selectivity to the A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR). A3AR
is highly expressed in tumor cells whereas low expression is found
in normal cells. This differential effect accounts for the
excellent safety profile of the drug. In Can-Fite's pre-clinical
and clinical studies, CF102 has demonstrated a robust anti-tumor
effect via deregulation of the Wnt signaling pathway, resulting in
apoptosis of liver cancer cells. CF102 is in Phase II clinical
trials for the treatment of liver cancer in the U.S., Israel, and Europe. The U.S. Food and
Drug Administration has agreed with Can-Fite's Phase II study
protocol and had previously granted Can-Fite Orphan Drug
Designation for CF102 in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma,
the most common form of liver cancer.
About Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd.
Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE MKT: CANF) (TASE: CFBI) 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 and inflammatory diseases. The Company's
CF101 is in Phase II/III trials for the treatment of psoriasis and
the Company is preparing for a Phase III CF101 trial for rheumatoid
arthritis. Can-Fite's liver cancer drug CF102 is commencing Phase
II trials and has been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration. CF102 has also shown proof of concept
to potentially treat other cancers including colon, prostate, and
melanoma. These drugs have an excellent safety profile with
experience in over 1,200 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. In
addition, from time to time, Can-Fite or its representatives have
made or may make forward-looking statements, orally or in writing.
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. These forward-looking statements may be included
in, but are not limited to, various filings made by Can-Fite with
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, press releases or oral
statements made by or with the approval of one of Can-Fite's
authorized executive officers. 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 risks and uncertainties that could cause
Can-Fite's actual results to differ materially from any future
results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
Many factors could cause Can-Fite's actual activities or results to
differ materially from the activities and results anticipated in
such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the
factors summarized in Can-Fite's filings with the SEC and in its
periodic filings with the TASE. In addition, Can-Fite
operates in an industry sector where securities values are highly
volatile and may be influenced by economic and other factors beyond
its control. Can-Fite does not undertake any obligation to
publicly update these forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contact:
Can-Fite BioPharma
Motti Farbstein
info@canfite.com
+972-3-9241114
Argot Partners (Investors and Media)
Matthew Haines
matthew@argotpartners.com
646-681-8192
SOURCE Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd.