15 February 2018 - - Petach Tikva, Israel-based biotechnology company Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd.'s (NYSE: CANF; TASE: CFBI) pre-clinical studies show Namodenoson's novel mechanism of action (MOA) entails de-regulation of 3 key signaling pathways that mediate the etiology and pathology of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NAFLD/NASH), and are responsible for the anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrogenic effect in the liver, the company said.
Pre-clinical studies were conducted in hepato-stellate cells in vitro and in an experimental NASH CCL4 model, showing that in both systems, the molecular mechanism of action of Namodenoson was conferred by decreased expression levels of the signaling protein phosphoinositol-3-phosphate which controls 3 downstream signal transduction pathways, the Wnt, NF-kB and α-SMA, which control liver inflammation and liver fibrosis.
The company is currently conducting a Phase II trial with its drug candidate Namodenoson for the treatment of 60 patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
Namodenoson, a small orally bioavailable drug that binds with high affinity and selectivity to the A3 adenosine receptor has been tested in over 100 subjects with other liver diseases, with clinical data suggesting a very favorable safety profile. It is being evaluated in Phase II trials as a second line treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma, and as a treatment for NAFLD and NASH.
Can-Fite is advancing a pipeline of proprietary small molecule drugs that address liver and inflammatory diseases, cancer, and sexual dysfunction.