Can-Fite BioPharma has secured a US patent for Namodenoson, its lead drug candidate, for use as an anti-obesity treatment.
Set to be issued in February 2025, the patent will expire in 2042 and covers the oral administration of the drug to reduce fat levels and body weight.
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The US Patent Office has accepted patent application No 17/309,952, titled “An A3 adenosine receptor ligand for use for achieving a fat loss effect,” which is supported by the data showing Namodenoson’s ability to decrease fat cell levels by increasing adiponectin, a hormone that regulates fat production.
The drug was shown to decrease body weight in an experimental animal model of obesity.
Can-Fite CE and CFO Motti Farbstein stated: “Namodenoson is currently being developed for the treatment of MASH in a Phase IIb study where most patients are obese. We look forward to seeing the anti-obesity effect in this clinical study.”
Currently under development for several conditions including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), pancreatic cancer and advanced liver cancer, the drug showed a favourable safety profile when taken orally, as determined in clinical studies.
In a Phase IIa study for MASH, subjects treated with the drug experienced a 2.3% weight loss over three months, accompanied by a significant increase in serum adiponectin levels.
The drug’s selectivity to the A3 adenosine receptor, which is highly expressed in diseased cells, contributes to its safety profile.
Can-Fite has a portfolio of approved patents worldwide for clinical applications of Namodenoson.
The drug has also received orphan drug status in the US and Europe.
It also gained fast-track designation from the US Food and Drug Administration as a second-line treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma.
