Can Fite BioPharma Ltd (CANF)

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Can-Fite Announces Final Data Analysis from Phase II NASH Study: Highly Significant and Sustained Reduction in Liver Fat Volume Throughout Study Period

Results confirm 25 mg Namodenoson as optimal dose based on MRI-PDFF analysis and liver enzymes, reduction of liver fibrosis and resolving all cases of NASH; Namodenoson continues to demonstrate a very good safety profile after drug treatment

Prof. Rifaat Safadi, study principal investigator: "I am very pleased with these compelling data. The next clinical trial protocol to advance Namodenoson in the treatment of NASH and NAFLD is now being developed"

PETACH TIKVA, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE American: CANF) (TASE:CFBI), a biotechnology company advancing a pipeline of proprietary small molecule drugs that address inflammatory, cancer and liver diseases, today announced that the final data analysis from its Phase II study of Namodenoson in the treatment of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with or without non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has been completed. As a whole, the data show that Namodenoson at the 25 mg dose produced statistically significant results in all measures of efficacy, while also having a strong safety profile and well tolerated.

New data resulting from the final analysis included additional results from MRI-PDFF (proton density fat fraction on magnetic resonance imaging) and liver stiffness measured by CAP Fibroscan. An evaluation based on per patient liver volume revealed that liver fat volume decreased in the Namodenoson treated groups vs. the placebo (12.5 mg=81.2; 25 mg =102.1, vs. placebo= 33.0) with a high significance (12.5mg p=0.036; 25mg p=0.027, respectively). The percentage of fat volume decrease was also statistically significant, with the Namodenoson 12.5 mg group declining by 3.68%, and the 25 mg group declining by 4.33% vs. the placebo at 2.61% (25 mg p=0.036). This provides additional support for the anti-steatotic effect of Namodenoson and additional assurance that 25 mg is the more efficacious dose.

Anti-Inflammatory Effect
Namodenoson significantly reduced two liver enzymes, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), which are elevated in a damaged liver, and increased the anti-inflammatory cytokine adiponectin known also to act as an anti-fibrotic factor. Serum adiponectin levels increased in the 25 mg dose group by 220 ng/mL and the 12.5 mg dose group by 539 ng/mL (p=0.03). Adiponectin is a cytokine with robust anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects that is used as a biomarker in NAFLD/NASH trials. In addition, a dose response decrease compared to placebo was observed, indicating a reduction of hepatic inflammation was achieved:

- % of patients who reached ALT normalization at follow up was 36.8% in the 25 mg dose vs. 10% in the placebo (p=0.038). In the 12.5 mg dose, 23.8% was recorded at follow up;

- ALT Change from baseline (CFB) and % change from baseline (PCFB) - in the 25 mg group, CFB decreased by 15.4 U/L (p=0.066) and PCFB by 22% (p=0.079) compared to placebo (1.7 U/L, 3.0%, respectively). In the 12.5 mg group, a decrease CFB of 10.4 U/L and PCFB of 8.2% was recorded; and

- AST CFB and PCFB - in the 25 mg group, CFB decreased by 8.1 U/L (p=0.03) and PCFB by 17.9% (p=0.05) compared to placebo (increase of 0.3 U/L, decrease of 1.3%, respectively). In the 12.5 mg group, a decrease in CFB of 7.4 U/L and PCFB of 8.1 % was recorded.

Reduction of Liver Fibrosis
Patients treated with 25 mg of Namodenoson had a statistically significant reduction in hepatic fibrosis as measured by the Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score, as compared to placebo. FIB-4 change from baseline improved by -0.089 in patients dosed with 25 mg of Namodenoson, as compared to the placebo group which deteriorated from baseline by 0.042 points, with p=0.026. FIB-4 is a non-invasive marker of hepatic fibrosis consisting of four parameters including age, platelet counts, and AST and ALT.

Reduction of Liver Steatosis
In the Namodenoson 25 mg treated group, the proportion of patients with high steatosis scores declined from 37.5% to 13.3% of the population, as compared to the placebo treated group in which the proportion of patients with high steatosis scores decreased from 37.5% to 35.3% of the population, with p=0.08. Steatosis was assessed by Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP) measurement of the FibroScan, a non-invasive marker of hepatic steatosis.

NASH – All Cases Resolved
25% of patients randomized into the Namodenoson 25 mg dosed group had NASH at baseline, as compared to none in the placebo group, which comprised of patients who had NAFLD without NASH at baseline. Following 12 weeks of treatment, all NASH cases were resolved in patients treated with 25 mg of Namodenoson, as compared to new NASH that developed in the placebo group representing 5% of that population, with p<0.009. NASH was evaluated by FibroScan-AST (FAST) score, a noninvasive marker of NASH, the severe form of NAFLD (equivalent to biopsy findings of NAS≥4, F≥2), measured by FibroScan elastography, CAP and serum AST.

Decrease in Body weight
A linear decrease in body weight was recorded in the 25 mg and 12.5 mg Namodenoson groups.

A3 Adenosine Receptor (A3AR)
The A3AR biomarker was stable, demonstrating the presence of the receptor after chronic treatment and reflecting the validity of the target.

Safety
Namodenoson continued to be safe and very well tolerated with no drug emergent severe adverse effects and no hepatotoxicity.

“We are very pleased with these compelling data. The next clinical trial protocol to advance Namodenoson in the treatment of NASH and NAFLD is now being developed. With the clear need for approved drugs in this indication, I believe distribution partners for Can-Fite will likely take notice of these results,” stated Prof. Rifaat Safadi of Hadassah Medical Center, the Principal Investigator of the study.

The Phase II double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-finding efficacy and safety study enrolled 60 patients with NAFLD with or without NASH. Patients with evidence of an active inflammation were treated twice daily with 12.5 mg (n=21) or 25 mg (n=19) of oral Namodenoson vs. placebo (n=20). The patients were treated for 12 weeks and followed-up until week 16.

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