Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (TASE:CFBI; Bulletin Board: CANFY) today announced positive interim results of its Phase II/III clinical trial of CF101 for the treatment of psoriasis, and said that it is continuing enrolling patients in the study.
Can-Fite said that interim analysis of safety and efficacy data from the first 103 patients who completed 24 weeks of treatment in the trial found positive clinical effects of CF101 compared with the placebo in a variety of standard psoriasis assessment parameters, with the responses accumulating steadily over the treatment period. It added that the results corroborate the published Phase II study and confirm the dose selection, and that the drug's favorable safety profile further supports its development for the systemic treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis. The company plans to expand the study to 300 patients at 17 US, European, and Israeli medical centers.
Can-Fite CEO Prof. Pnina Fishman said, “We are very happy to continue the clinical development plan of CF101, a small molecule orally bioavailable drug, based on its encouraging therapeutic index. CF101’s anti-inflammatory effect, its well-defined mechanism of action, and the excellent safety profile all suggest this drug is an attractive candidate for the treatment of psoriasis."
Can-Fite says that psoriasis is a skin condition that affects 2-3% of the population, and it estimates the market, which is dominated by biological drugs, at $3.5 billion a year.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on October 9, 2012
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