Israel’s Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd., a biotechnology company advancing a pipeline of proprietary small molecule drugs that address cancer and inflammatory diseases, has received a patent in the US for 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.”
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Can-Fite has also recently been granted patents for this technology in both Japan and the European Union.
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. According to the company, this differential effect accounts for the excellent safety profile of the drug.
The new drug 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.
