Can-Fite Phase II for Liver Cancer
Can-Fite BioPharma (TASE: CFBI, OTC:
CANFY), has initiated a Phase 2 study with its anti-cancer drug CF102, the second drug in its
pipeline of A3 adenosine receptor ligands. The company is studying CF102 as a
treatment for liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma, or HCC). Based on the
successful conclusion of a former Phase 1/2 trial, the company developed a Phase 2
protocol that will be conducted under an open IND with the FDA. The study will
include 130 patients with an advanced liver cancer disease and CF102 will be given
as a standalone drug.
The company reported that the Phase 1/2 study data
demonstrated that the trial objectives were successfully achieved, demonstrating a
very favorable safety profile for CF102 in a patient population with hepatocellular
carcinoma and Child-Pugh cirrhosis classes A and B. In addition, the median overall
survival time was very encouraging given that most patients were treated in the
second-line setting and some were Child-Pugh class B. Another finding indicated that
the A3 adenosine receptor, which is the target of CF102, can serve as a biomarker to
predict the patients’ reaction to treatment with CF102. Interestingly, one of the
patients that has been included in the Phase 1/2 study is treated for 4 years with
CF102 and is doing very well.