Full Press Release Details
Can-Fite Issues Letter to Shareholders
PETACH TIKVA, Israel, January 5, 2022 -- Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd.
(NYSE American: CANF) (TASE: CFBI), a biotechnology company advancing a pipeline of proprietary small molecule drugs that address inflammatory,
cancer and liver diseases, today issued a Letter to Shareholders from its Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Pnina Fishman.
Dear Can-Fite Shareholders,
Beginning in the first quarter of 2022, we expect several significant
and value-driving events during the calendar year. We are building upon the solid progress achieved in 2021 which included the completion
of a 400-patient Phase III psoriasis study, the design, preparation, and clearance to commence our Phase III liver cancer and Phase II
NASH studies, as well as several inventions and patents.
Topline Phase III Psoriasis Data Expected Q1 2022 -
Our Comfort Phase III study of Piclidenoson enrolled and treated
approximately 400 patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. In the first quarter, we expect to announce results from the first
16 weeks of treatment, with the primary endpoint of the study being a statistically significant improvement in achieving a PASI score
of 75 in Piclidenoson treated patients vs. placebo. Later in 2022, we expect to announce the study's secondary endpoint at 32 weeks
of treatment which is non-inferiority of Piclidenoson vs. Otezla. The study has four treatment arms: Piclidenoson 2 mg, Piclidenoson 3
mg, Otezla , and placebo.
Should the topline results confirm Piclidenoson's efficacy
at 16 weeks as compared to placebo, we believe this would be a significant value-driving event. Piclidenoson has already been out-licensed
to distribution partners in some European countries, Canada, South Korea, and China through agreements that include milestones payments,
and we believe that positive results would trigger high interest in Piclidenoson in other major healthcare markets in which we are currently
talking with potential partners.
Following 32 weeks of treatment, if Piclidenoson proves non-inferior
to Otezla, we believe this would be a significant event in the psoriasis treatment market, as Piclidenoson and Otezla are both oral drugs
in a market dominated by injection-based biologics. We believe it is Otezla's oral dosing advantage that has led to the drug capturing
robust market share and being acquired by Amgen for $13 billion in 2019.
Phase IIb NASH Study Expected to Commence Patient Enrollment
in Q1 2022 - The study will enroll 140 patients with biopsy-confirmed NASH with a primary endpoint to evaluate the efficacy of Namodenoson
as compared to placebo, as determined by a histological endpoint. Patients will be randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to oral doses of Namodenoson
25 mg or placebo every 12 hours for 36 weeks. There is currently no FDA approved treatment for NASH, an urgent unmet need that is a leading
cause of liver transplants.
Patient Enrollment Expected to Commence in Pivotal Phase III
Liver Cancer Study H1 2022 - In December, we announced that a prior Phase II liver cancer study patient who continues to be
treated with Namodenoson has survived five years and cleared all cancer lesions. We see this as a very positive sign as we expect to commence
enrollment in the first quarter of 2022. Approximately 450 patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and underlying Child
Pugh B7 (CPB7) who have not responded to other approved therapies will be enrolled through clinical sites worldwide. Patients will be
randomized to oral treatment with either 25 mg Namodenoson or matching placebo given twice daily. The primary efficacy endpoint of the
trial is overall survival. An interim analysis will be conducted by an Independent Data Monitoring Committee after 50% of patients are
While several approved therapies exist for liver cancer, advanced
patients often become unresponsive to treatment. With its liver protective properties, Namodenoson helped CPB7 patients who were unresponsive
to approved treatments achieve a statistically significant improvement in overall survival as compared to placebo in our prior Phase II
study. Namodenoson has been out-licensed to three partners in the indications of liver cancer and NASH in Eastern Europe, South Korea,
We enter 2022 with a strong balance sheet, having raised $10 million
in December in addition to the $13.3 million we reported at the end of Q3 2021. While our advanced clinical trials addressing multi-billion
markets in psoriasis, liver cancer, and NASH are expected to be our main drivers, we also expect continued development and potential value
events from our out-licensing of Piclidenoson to treat osteoarthritis in the veterinary market, as well as development of CF602 in the
treatment of erectile dysfunction, and our preclinical work with cannabinoids.
We wish all of you a healthy and happy 2022, and we look forward
to sharing significant news during the year.
Pnina Fishman, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
About Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd.
Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE American: 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, liver, and inflammatory disease. The Company's lead drug candidate, Piclidenoson, is currently
in a Phase III trial for psoriasis. Can-Fite's liver drug, Namodenoson, is headed into a Phase III trial for hepatocellular carcinoma
(HCC), the most common form of liver cancer, and a Phase IIb trial for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). 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, market risks and uncertainties,
its product development efforts, business, financial condition, results of operations, strategies or prospects. In addition, from time
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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. Factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements
include, but are not limited to: 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 impact
of the COVID-19 pandemic; 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; statements as to the impact of the political and security situation in Israel on our business; and risks and other risk
factors detailed 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.