Full Press Release Details
Prior to Phase II Liver Cancer Data Release Can-Fite Brings
on Board an Oncologist Expert
PETACH TIKVA, Israel, November 20, 2018
-- Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE MKT: CANF) (TASE:CFBI), a biotechnology company with a pipeline of proprietary small molecule
drugs that address cancer, liver and inflammatory diseases, announced that Professor Josep Llovet, an experienced leader with
deep background in liver cancer research and development, has been commissioned by the Company to assist in the analysis of the
Phase II data that is anticipated during the first quarter of 2019.
Professor Llovet is Founder and Director
of the Liver Cancer Program and Full Professor of Medicine at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York University (USA), and
Professor of Research-ICREA in the BCLC Group, Liver Unit, IDIBAPS-Hospital Cl nic, University of Barcelona. Professor Llovet
has been President, Secretary and Founder of the International Liver Cancer Association (ILCA) and Chairman of the European Clinical
Practice Guidelines of management of liver cancer (EASL-EORTC). A renowned key opinion leader, Dr. Llovet has published more than
240 articles in peer-reviewed journals, more than 50 chapters of books, and has delivered more than 500 lectures. He has devoted
the past 20 years of his career studying the pathogenesis and treatment of liver cancer.
"We are proud and honored to have
the expertise of Prof. Llovet, who is one of the most distinguished Key Opinion Leaders in the field of liver diseases, on our
team. We look forward to the insights he will contribute in the analysis of data of our Phase II advanced liver cancer study when
the results are unblinded sometime during the first quarter of 2019. We believe his depth of experience both as researcher and
as medical practitioner in treatment of liver cancer will be beneficial to Can-Fite. His insight and commitment to this field will
be quite helpful as we create a new approach for liver cancer therapy," stated Can-Fite CEO Dr. Pnina Fishman.
Due to patient survival, top line efficacy
results are expected during the first quarter of 2019 for Can-Fite's Phase II clinical trial of drug candidate Namodenoson
(CF102) for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with a Child Pugh B score whose disease has progressed
on sorafenib therapy. Enrollment of 78 patients was completed in August 2017 and the trial continues treating subjects in a blinded
fashion (either Namodenoson 25 mg BID or matching placebo). Namodenoson has received Fast Track Status in the U.S. and Orphan Drug
Designation in Europe and the U.S.
Namodenoson is a small orally bioavailable
drug that binds with high affinity and selectivity to the A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR). Namodenoson is being 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: 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, inflammatory disease and sexual dysfunction. The Company's lead drug candidate,
Piclidenoson, is currently in Phase III trials for rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. Can-Fite's liver cancer drug, Namodenoson,
is in Phase II trials for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer, and 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 in preclinical studies and the Company is investigating additional compounds, targeting A3AR,
for the treatment of sexual dysfunction. These drugs have an excellent safety profile with experience in over 1,000 patients in
clinical studies to date. For more information please visit: www.can-fite.com.
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