The company said it would be patenting the use of the drug for this purpose.
Drug development company Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (TASE:CFBI) has disclosed that its CF102 drug for viral hepatitis was found in preclinical trials (on animals) to be effective in promoting liver tissue regeneration, following partial hepatectomy. "This procedure is usually performed in patients with primary of metastasic liver cancer. No drugs are currently available to speed the regeneration process," said the company in its announcement.
Can-Fite also announced that it would begin Phase I safety trials in the first quarter of 2008. The company said it believes the market for drugs that promote liver regeneration consists primarily of patients with hepatitis B and C. "Out of 130 million patients with hepatitis C and 350 million patients with hepatitis B, 100 million patients are at high risk of for developing liver failure or liver cancer, and may need drugs that speed up the regeneration of their infected liver during the course of the disease," it noted.
Can-Fite's share gained 4.5% in trading by mid-day on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) on Sunday, to give a market cap of NIS 190 million.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on October 21, 2007
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