Can-Fite obesity drug namodenoson receives patent

Namodenoson is an oral medication with a proven favorable safety profile

RAMAT GAN, Israel, Nov. 4, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE American: CANF) (TASE: CANF), a biotechnology company advancing a pipeline of proprietary small molecule drugs to treat oncology and inflammatory diseases, today provided an update on the intellectual property (IP) status of its lead drug candidate, namodenoson. is currently being developed for the treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), advanced liver cancer and pancreatic cancer. In all clinical studies conducted, namodenoson demonstrated a very favorable safety profile when administered orally.

Patent application number 2020205042 entitled “An A3 adenosine receptor ligand for use in achieving a fat loss effect” has been accepted by the Australian Patent Office and expires in 2040.

The patent application covers methods for treating obese patients by administering namodenoson in an oral formulation. Can-Fite already has several approved patents and corresponding applications in various territories around the world, including Europe and the USA, for the drug's various clinical applications.

The anti-obesity patent application is based on data showing that treating fat cells with namodenoson reduces fat content by increasing the hormone adiponectin, a regulator of fat production in the body. Namodenoson also reduced body weight in an experimental animal model of obesity induced by a high-fat diet. In a Phase IIa study of MASH patients treated with namodenoson, a 2.3% weight loss was observed at 3 months with a significant increase in serum adiponectin levels.

“We are pleased that namodenoson’s obesity product protection has been accepted in Australia and is valid until 2040. Namodenoson is currently being developed in a Phase IIb trial for the treatment of MASH, where most patients are obese. “We look forward to seeing the anti-obesity effect in this clinical trial,” said Pnina Fishman, Ph.D. , CSO and Chairman of Can-Fite.

The global obesity treatment market is lucrative due to awareness of a link between chronic diseases and obesity and was valued at $12 billion in 2023, according to Market Research Future. There are expected to be around 1.85 million MASH patients in Australia alone

About namodenoson

Namodenoson is a small, orally bioavailable drug that binds to the A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR) with high affinity and selectivity. Namodenoson is currently being evaluated in a pivotal Phase III trial for advanced liver cancer and a Phase IIb trial for the treatment of steatotic liver disease (SLD). The company is also 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 could be one of the important factors responsible for the excellent safety profile of the drug.

About namodenoson

Namodenoson is a small, orally bioavailable drug that binds to the A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR) with high affinity and selectivity. Namodenoson was studied in Phase II trials for two indications: as a second-line treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma and as a treatment for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). A3AR is highly expressed in diseased cells, whereas low expression is found in normal cells. This different effect explains the drug's excellent safety profile.

About Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd.

Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE American: CANF) (TASE: CANF) is an advanced clinical stage drug development company with platform technology targeting multi-billion dollar markets in the treatment of cancer, liver and inflammatory diseases. The company's lead drug candidate, piclidenoson, recently reported topline results from a Phase III trial for the treatment of psoriasis. Can-Fite's liver drug, namodenoson, is being evaluated in a Phase IIb trial for the treatment of MASH, a Phase III trial for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and the company plans a Phase IIa trial for pancreatic cancer. Namodenoson has received orphan drug designation in the United States and Europe and fast-track designation from the United States Food and Drug Administration as a second-line treatment for HCC. Namodenoson has also demonstrated proof of concept for the potential treatment of other cancers such as colon, prostate and melanoma. CF602, the company's third drug candidate, has been shown to be effective in treating erectile dysfunction. These medications have an excellent safety profile and have been tested in clinical trials on over 1,600 patients to date. Further information can be found at: www.can-fite.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

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Can-Fite BioPharma

Motti Farbstein

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