Can-Fite lab trial finds drug suppresses JC virus

The success opens a new potential market. CF-102 is already undergoing clinical trials for treating carcinoma, liver inflammation and hepatitis C.

Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (TASE:CFBI) reports that laboratory trials of its CF-102 drug found it to be effective in suppressing JC virus culture.

The success opens a new potential market for Can-Fite. CF-102 is already undergoing Phase I/II clinical trials for the treatment of carcinoma, liver inflammation and hepatitis C.

The JC virus is found in dormant form in 70-90% of the population. It normally causes minor infections in children with a normal immune system, but can cause brain and spinal cord infections, called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in people with AIDS and other forms of immune system impairment. The virus is also the primary cause of nephropathy (kidney disease) in people who have received a kidney transplant and are on immunosuppressive therapy.

There is no treatment for PML, and patients die within 6-15 months. Can-Fite says that CF-102 would be given together with biological drugs on the market.

Can-Fite CEO Pnina Fishman said, "The ability of CF-102 to suppress the JC virus culture will lead to a medical response for treating PML, an aggressive and incurable disease, whose incidence is steadily rising."

Can-Fite's share price rose 2.9% in morning trading to NIS 0.82, giving a market cap of NIS 186 million.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on April 27, 2011

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2011

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