24th Feb，2020– Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. issued an announcement, which is summarized as follows:
Namodenoson may create powerful combination treatment with checkpoint inhibitors currently on the market
Checkpoint inhibitors, including PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors, are a novel class of oncology drugs
Global market value of checkpoint inhibitors estimated to reach $56.5 billion by 2025
Can-Fite today announced it has filed a patent application for its drug candidate Namodenoson to be used as a combination therapy with checkpoint inhibitors. Titled “Programmed Death 1/Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) Axis Inhibitor For Use In Combination With An A3 Adenosine Receptor (A3AR) Ligands”, the patent application addresses various oncology indications including advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer. Namodenoson is currently being developed by Can-Fite as a monotherapy for HCC, with a Phase III study expected to commence in 2020.
Checkpoint inhibitors, including PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors, are a novel class of oncology drugs with a global market value of $10.6 billion in 2017 and estimated to reach $56.5 billion by 2025 according to Allied Market Research.
Patients respond very well to checkpoint inhibitors, however a high percentage may develop resistance to the drugs. In pre-clinical studies, Can-Fite’s Namodenoson has shown to significantly inhibit the expression of PD-L1 in liver pathological cells, and therefore has the potential to boost the efficacy of drugs that inhibit PD-1 and PD-L1 by helping patients overcome resistance to the drug.
“The capability of Namodenoson to inhibit the β-catenin pathway in cancer cells has the potential to play a key role in the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors and may overcome resistance. Based on its mechanism of action, Namodenoson has anti-cancer properties as a monotherapy which may support its use as a powerful combination treatment with checkpoint inhibitors currently on the market,” stated Can-Fite CEO Dr. Pnina Fishman.
The original website link:
https://ir.canfite.com/press-releases/detail/889/can-fite-files-patent-for-namodenosonto-overcome-drug-resistance-to-checkpoint-inhibitors-for-oncology-indications