July 25, 2010

Can-Fite reports CF102 success against hepatitis

The firm's clinical trial is studying liver cancer patients, some of whom also carry the hepatitis C virus.

25 July 10 10:39, Globes' correspondent

Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (TASE:CFBI) reports that three liver cancer patients in the Phase I/II clinical trial of CF102 who also suffer from hepatitis C showed a significant decline in the level of the virus. The trial is designed to test CF102 against liver cancer, but since many of these patients also suffer from hepatitis C, the drug's effect on the hepatitis virus was also tested.

Can-Fite said that the trial's results were "very impressive", since the patients had severe hepatitis C and were only treated with CF102. The company that, in view of these results and the tolerability shown by patients to the drug, the clinical trial has been expanded for patients with hepatitis C, in order to test the continuing effect of the drug.

Can-Fite said that the hepatitis C treatment market currently amounts to $3 billion, and is expected to soar to $8.3 billion by 2012, based on an estimate of 180 million carriers of the virus worldwide. The current prevailing treatment is injections of interferon and Ribavirin tablets, whose effectiveness in short-lived and includes side effects.

Can-Fite recently obtained a US patent for use of CF102 for the treatment of viral diseases, including hepatitis, AIDS, and influenza. The company has already has intellectual property rights and patent protection in Europe, China, Japan, and other countries.

Can-Fite's share price rose 6.3% in early trading to NIS 0.56, giving a market cap of NIS 115 million.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - http://www.globes-online.com/ - on July 25, 2010
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2010

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