Liver repair drug candidate receives Japanese patent

Can-Fite BioPharma received a Japanese patent for CF102, a drug under development to repair liver cells and function in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, according to a news release.

“In preclinical studies, CF102 induces proliferation of hepatocytes following liver resection, increases liver weight and reduces elevated levels of serum liver enzymes, reflecting improved liver status,” Pnina Fishman, PhD, chief executive officer at Can-Fite, said in the release. “We believe that the use of CF102 to induce proliferation of hepatocytes in liver cancer patients following surgery may provide important health benefits and prolong survival.”

CF102, an oral molecule drug, acts as an agonist at the A3 adenosine receptor and has demonstrated antitumor effects in multiple phase 1 and 2 clinical trials, resulting in liver cancer cell death, according to Can-Fite.

Can-Fite received orphan drug designation from the FDA for CF102 and a patent from the European Union earlier this year. A phase 2 clinical study is under way in the US, Europe and Israel with 78 participants dosed with placebo or CF102 as a second-line treatment of advanced HCC in patients who have failed treatment with sorafenib. The study will investigate the safety and efficacy of CF102 compared with placebo.