The drug showed marked improvement in two of the three variables that were studied.
Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (TASE:CFBI) has reported good results, albeit not perfect, in the Phase IIb efficacy trial of its CF101 drug for rheumatoid arthritis. The drug was found to have caused a marked improvement in patients compared with those in the control group in two of the three variables that were studied. No improvement was recorded in the third variable although the company said that the results enable it to proceed to Phase III trials. It also confirmed the results of previous trials which showed that the drug is safer to use than the alternatives.
The study, in which 253 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients participated, was a double-blind, placebo controlled, 12 week program that tested the effect of three doses of CF101 in combination with methotrexate (MTX) in comparison to MTX alone (that is, MTX plus placebo capsules). The study showed improvements of 20%, 50% and 70% in patients assessed using different ACR endpoints.
Can-Fite noted that a certain ACR response showed no difference between the CF101-treated and the placebo groups, all showing a response rate of about 50%. The company attributed this to pharmacologically active components in the placebo that reacted with MTX to yield the observed response, adding that this would be the basis of its next patent application.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on July 16, 2007
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2007