On January 16, 2020 Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE American: CANF) (TASE:CFBI), a biopharmaceutical company with a pipeline of proprietary small molecule drugs that address inflammatory, cancer and liver diseases, reported new findings in its collaboration with Univo Pharmaceuticals (TASE:UNVO) characterizing the effects of cannabinoids on diseases mediated through the A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR) (Press release, Can-Fite BioPharma, JAN 16, 2020, View Source [SID1234553257]). Joint research shows that certain cannabinoid-based formulations exert a highly potent beneficial effect on diseased cells by binding to A3AR, and these findings present new opportunities for the development of cannabinoids in the treatment of a variety of diseases in which there is an overexpression of A3AR. Can-Fite filed a patent application titled "Cannabinoids for use in treating A3 adenosine receptor-associated conditions" based on these findings, and covering all the clinical indications in which A3AR is overexpressed.
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Can-Fite, a global leader in discovering and developing drugs which target A3AR, is collaborating with Univo Pharmaceuticals and utilizes its platform technology within the framework of this collaboration to develop cannabinoids for the treatment of large unmet medical needs. Can-Fite announced a strategic partnership with Univo Pharmaceuticals, a medical cannabis company, in September 2019, and Univo’s CEO Golan Bitton joined Can-Fite’s Board of Directors in December 2019.
Dr. Ilan Cohen, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board at Can-Fite, and a senior partner of Reinhold Cohn & Partners the largest IP firm in Israel, stated, "This new patent application is an important addition to the different patent families containing issued patents and pending patent applications relating to the use of ligands that target the A3 adenosine receptor and which bind and activate the target to yield different therapeutic effects. If issued, we expect this patent will be a very valuable addition to Can-Fite’s patent portfolio. We believe Can-Fite and Univo together are ideally positioned to lead in the invention and development of cannabinoid-A3AR drugs and the companies are establishing foundational IP assets for these inventions."
Can-Fite CEO Dr. Pnina Fishman added, "Our unique approach to developing cannabis derived pharmaceuticals, utilizing the A3 adenosine receptor as a filter, serves as an additional barrier of protection of our innovative findings for the use of cannabinoids for a variety of clinical applications. As the medical community is now recognizing the opportunities within this exciting area, it is important that we protect our innovative approach and the investments that we made along the way. In addition to our small molecule drugs, Piclidenoson and Namodenoson, which are currently in Can-Fite’s advanced stage clinical pipeline, we now have the opportunity to develop a whole new class of cannabinoid-A3AR drugs in partnership with Univo."
Golan Bitton, Univo’s CEO commented, "We are very pleased with the first success from the strategic partnership between Univo and Can-Fite. The new discovery and its potential is a testament to the research and development capabilities of both companies. We look forward to accelerating our collaboration to develop promising cannabinoid-based drugs."
According to Adroit Market Research, the medical cannabis market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 29% to $56.7 billion by 2026.