Can-Fite BioPharma announced that its Phase 2a trial of namodenoson (CF102) met its primary safety goal in patients with advanced Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The study included 20 heavily pretreated patients whose disease had progressed after prior therapies. Namodenoson was well tolerated, with no new safety concerns, and its safety profile was consistent with previous studies in other cancers, such as liver cancer.
Preliminary results showed that one-third of patients were still alive at the data cut-off, with further follow-up on progression-free and overall survival ongoing. Namodenoson is a first-in-class oral drug that targets the A3 adenosine receptor, which is overexpressed in cancer cells, triggering programmed cell death by disrupting Wnt/β-catenin and NF-κB pathways. The drug has received Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA for pancreatic cancer and holds Fast Track status for liver cancer.
Experts say namodenoson could offer a new targeted therapy option for pancreatic cancer patients who fail standard chemotherapy, providing a treatment that emphasizes both safety and quality of life.