Can-Fite to Explore the anti-Coronavirus Effects of Piclidenoson in Collaboration with Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University

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Can-Fite to Support Research Directed by Kamel Khalili, Ph.D. on Piclidenoson against Coronaviruses

PETACH TIKVA, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE American: CANF) (TASE:CFBI), a biotechnology company advancing a pipeline of proprietary small molecule drugs that address cancer, liver and inflammatory diseases, is entering into a collaborative research agreement with the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, USA. The agreement will support research directed by Dr. Kamel Khalili, aimed to explore anti-viral activity of Piclidenoson on Coronaviruses viral load in a mammalian cell model system as a first step.

"We are privileged to work with Dr. Khalili, a Key Opinion Leader in the arena of neurosciences and virology, to further study and advance our understanding of the effect of Piclidenoson on the coronaviruses replication and molecular mechanism involved," said Pnina Fishman, Ph.D., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Can-Fite. “This work aims to provide a more solid foundation for our ongoing efforts to understand the potential of Piclidenoson in these therapeutic areas.”

In some patients, coronaviruses create uncontrolled immune response and rheumatoid arthritis drugs may be used for treatment. Recently, China has approved the use of Roche’s Actemra, approved by U.S. FDA to treat rheumatoid arthritis, to treat coronavirus patients with serious lung damage. Moreover, Gilead is conducting a clinical study in China combining its rheumatoid arthritis drug chloroquine with its anti-viral candidate in the treatment of coronavirus. Can Fite’s drug Piclidenoson is currently in Phase III study for the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and on top of it has been shown to possess anti-viral effects against 2 single stranded RNA viruses HIV and HCC. The Coronaviruses are also single stranded RNA viruses. Can-Fites’s Piclidenoson’s anti-viral effect is protected by U.S. patent US7589075

About Piclidenoson

Piclidenoson is a novel, first-in-class, A3 adenosine receptor agonist (A3AR) small molecule, orally bioavailable drug with a favorable therapeutic index demonstrated in Phase II clinical studies. Piclidenoson is currently under development for the treatment of autoimmune inflammatory diseases. It is being evaluated in a Phase III study as a first line treatment, to replace methotrexate, in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and a Phase III study in the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis.

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 a 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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Can-Fite BioPharma
Motti Farbstein
[email protected]
+972-3-9241114

Media Contact:
DGI Comm
Laura Radocaj
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Source: Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd.

Released March 13, 2020