• Namodenoson robustly inhibits pancreatic carcinoma growth in pre-clinical studies, via inhibition of KRAS and Wnt pathways
• Poster summarizing the inhibitory effect of Namodenoson in pancreatic carcinoma is presented today at the AACR conference
• Exploratory Phase II pancreatic cancer study protocol has been developed and is to be submitted to ethical committees in Israel and the U.S.

PETACH TIKVA, Israel / Sep 27, 2023 / Business Wire / Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE American: CANF) (TASE: CANF), a biotechnology company advancing a pipeline of proprietary small molecule drugs that address oncology, inflammatory and liver diseases, today announced that its study titled “Namodenoson Inhibits the Growth of Pancreatic Carcinoma via De-regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway” has been accepted for a poster presentation at the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer, held from September 27-30, 2023, in Boston, Massachusetts.

The pre-clinical studies presented in the poster used advanced pancreatic carcinoma patient cells that were treated with Namodenoson both in tissue cultures and in in vivo studies. Namodenoson treatment resulted in a significant growth inhibition and de-regulation of two signal transduction pathways, the Wnt and the KRAS, both of which are responsible for the etiology and pathology of this devastating disease.

Can-Fite completed the development of an exploratory Phase II protocol in patients with pancreatic carcinoma who have failed first line treatment and plans to shortly submit it for approval to medical sites in Israel and the U.S. Safety and efficacy endpoints including objective response, progression-free survival, duration of response, disease control, and overall survival will be monitored.

“The robust inhibition of pancreatic carcinoma growth both in vitro and in vivo, together with the definitive mechanism of action is a strong basis for evaluating Namodenoson in patients with pancreatic carcinoma where chemotherapeutic drugs have a very limited effect. We are very happy that the AACR granted us the opportunity to present these encouraging data and to discuss the very important results with the leading global experts in this field,” stated Prof. Pnina Fishman, CSO & Executive Chairman of Can-Fite.

About Pancreatic Cancer

The highest incidence rates for pancreatic cancer are in Asia, Europe, and North America. According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), in 2020, an estimated 496,000 people were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer globally and an estimated 466,000 died from the disease. The 5-year survival rate for people with pancreatic cancer in the U.S. is 11%. Acumen Research estimates the global pancreatic cancer therapeutics market was valued at approximately $3.6 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow to approximately $6.6 billion by 2030.

About Namodenoson

Namodenoson was evaluated in Phase 2 trials for two indications, as a second line treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and as a treatment for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). It is currently in a Phase 2b trial for steatotic liver disease and a pivotal Phase 3 for HCC. Namodenoson is a small orally bioavailable drug that binds with high affinity and selectivity to the A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR). 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: 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 cancer and liver drug, Namodenoson, is being evaluated in a Phase IIb trial for the treatment of steatotic liver disease (SLD), a Phase III pivotal trial for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and the Company is planning 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: www.can-fite.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

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