On June 13, 2023 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, reported that it is doing all the preparatory work for an FDA Investigational New Drug (IND) submission for the treatment of pancreatic carcinoma with Namodenoson (Press release, Can-Fite BioPharma, JUN 13, 2023, View Source [SID1234632649]).

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Pre-clinical studies demonstrate a robust dose dependent anti-proliferative effect of Namodenoson on pancreatic carcinoma cells originating from both male and female patients, reaching 90% growth inhibition.

An open-label Phase 2 exploratory trial to assess the safety and efficacy of Namodenoson in the treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer who have received at least one previous systemic therapy will be initiated. The study will enroll patients in Israel at the Rabin Medical Center and will be conducted by Dr. Salomon Stemmer, an oncology key opinion leader and Professor at the Institute of Oncology, Rabin Medical Center, Israel. Patients will receive Namodenoson at a dose of 25 mg orally, twice daily. Study endpoints will include safety, objective response, progression-free survival, duration of response, disease control (defined as an objective response or stable disease), and overall survival.

The IND submission will cross reference all the data previously shared with the FDA related to the development of Namodenoson for the treatment of advanced liver cancer. Can-Fite is currently enrolling patients in a pivotal Phase 3 study in hepatocellular carcinoma, in agreement with both the FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

"We are making progress towards Namodenoson’s first clinical trial in pancreatic carcinoma. Once this study is underway, Can-Fite’s pipeline will include two oncology indications with Namodenoson in clinical trials. We hope our oral anti-cancer drug, with its good safety and robust anticancer effect, will help and support patients with this devastating disease," stated Can-Fite CEO Dr. Pnina Fishman.

The highest incidence rates for pancreatic cancer are in Asia, Europe, and North America. According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper), 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 NASH, a pivotal Phase 3 for HCC, and is headed into a Phase 2a for pancreatic cancer. 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.