USPTO issues Notice of Allowance to Can-Fite BioPharma for psoriasis patent

Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE MKT: CANF) (TASE:CFBI), a biotechnology company with a pipeline of proprietary small molecule drugs that are being developed to treat inflammatory diseases, cancer and sexual dysfunction, announced today that it has received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for CF101 in the treatment of psoriasis. The patent, which is expected to be issued in the next few weeks, is titled, "Pharmaceutical Composition Comprising A3 Adenosine Receptor Agonist (IB-MECA/CF-101) For Treatment of Psoriasis." The patent covers Can-Fite's CF101, an orally bioavailable drug, for daily use in the treatment of patients with moderate to severe psoriasis.

"This notice of allowance comes at a key time for us, as we have just completed our Phase II/III trial for CF101 in the treatment of psoriasis and plan to announce top line results by the end of March. Should these results be favorable, then we believe this patent covering CF101 for psoriasis will significantly increase the value of our patent portfolio," stated Can-Fite CEO Dr. Pnina Fishman. Can-Fite's intellectual property portfolio consists of 120 patents issued and pending.

Can-Fite's recently completed Phase II/III double-blind, placebo-controlled study was designed to test the efficacy of CF101 in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Can-Fite enrolled 326 patients through 17 clinical centers in the U.S., Europe, and Israel. Interim results from this Phase II/III trial and final results from the prior Phase II trial for CF101 in psoriasis were both positive.

The psoriasis therapeutic market is dominated by biological drugs that are primarily administered via intravenous injection (IV) and have potential side effects. According to Global Data, the psoriasis treatment market was worth $3.6 billion in 2010 and is forecast to grow to $6.7 billion by 2018.

CF101, an A3 adenosine receptor agonist, is a novel, first in class, small molecule, orally bioavailable drug with a favorable therapeutic index demonstrated in Phase II clinical studies. CF101 is currently developed for the treatment of autoimmune inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (completed Phase II) and psoriasis (Phase II/III).

SOURCE Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd.