The Japan Patent Office has granted Can-Fite BioPharma (NYSE MKT:CANF) (TASE:CFBI) a patent for its lead drug candidate, CF101, for the reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP).
CF101 is an A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR) agonist that binds to A3AR, which is known to be over-expressed in inflammatory cells. Can-Fite has been granted a similar patent in the U.S. for IOP and has pending applications in other key global markets.
Can-Fite’s subsidiary, OphthaliX (OTCQB:OPLI), is currently conducting a Phase 2 trial of CF101 for the treatment of glaucoma in Europe and Israel. Patient enrollment has been completed and top-line results are expected in mid-2016.
“We are building our intellectual property assets for CF101 in the treatment of glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness,” CEO, Dr. Pnina Fishman, said in a statement.
“There is no cure for the disease and we believe our treatment alternative would offer benefits, including oral administration and an excellent safety profile,” she added.
While most glaucoma drugs currently on the market are generic eye drops, CF101 is one of a few oral drugs in development for the treatment of the disease.
