Can-Fite: Namodenoson Enhances the Anti-Cancer Effect of Chemotherapy in Pancreatic Cancer
Rhea-AI Summary
Can-Fite (NYSE American: CANF) reported new preclinical data showing its drug candidate namodenoson enhanced the anti-cancer effect of gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer models by increasing cleaved caspase-3, a key apoptosis protein. According to Can-Fite, these mechanistic findings support the design of its planned randomized Phase IIb study in advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma, which will test namodenoson combined with gemcitabine and Nab-paclitaxel. The company noted this approach builds on a favorable safety profile and encouraging clinical activity from its prior Phase IIa monotherapy study, whose results have been accepted for presentation at the ESMO Congress 2026.
Positive
- Preclinical combo data show namodenoson enhances gemcitabine’s effect via increased cleaved caspase-3
- Findings support planned randomized Phase IIb study in advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma
- Phase IIb design adds gemcitabine plus Nab-paclitaxel to namodenoson
- Prior Phase IIa study showed favorable safety and encouraging activity for namodenoson monotherapy
- Phase IIa clinical results accepted for presentation at ESMO Congress 2026
Negative
- Current enhancement evidence is preclinical only, with no new human efficacy data disclosed
- Planned Phase IIb trial is not yet reported as started, leaving development timelines and outcomes uncertain
Market Reaction – CANF
Following this news, CANF has gained 0.98%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +6.1% during the session. Our momentum scanner has triggered 5 alerts so far, indicating moderate trading interest and price volatility. The stock is currently trading at $3.43. Trading volume is exceptionally heavy at 45.0x the average, suggesting very strong buying interest.
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Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 12 | Regulatory status | Positive | +3.6% | Phase III regulatory updates for Namodenoson and Piclidenoson produced a positive pre-publication response. |
| Aug 03 | Clinical program | Positive | +0.6% | Can-Fite initiated a Piclidenoson study and signed a Lowe syndrome collaboration agreement. |
| Jul 20 | Pancreatic study data | Positive | -2.6% | Positive Phase 2a pancreatic data were accepted for presentation at ESMO Congress 2026. |
| Jul 14 | Patent allowance | Positive | -1.2% | The Australian Patent Office allowed protection supporting Namodenoson development in liver and pancreatic cancer. |
| Jul 06 | Trial enrollment | Positive | -2.8% | Can-Fite completed enrollment of 247 patients for a Phase 3 psoriasis interim analysis. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Recent positive Can-Fite announcements more often diverged from the announcement sentiment, with three declines versus two gains.
Key Terms
cleaved caspase-3 medical
apoptosis medical
pancreatic adenocarcinoma medical
standard-of-care medical
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
The New Mechanistic Findings Support Can-Fite’s Ongoing Phase IIb Study Design Following Positive Phase IIa Results
Ramat Gan, Israel, Aug. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE American: CANF) (TASE: CANF), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a pipeline of proprietary small molecule drugs targeting oncological and inflammatory diseases, today announced new preclinical findings demonstrating that namodenoson enhances the anti-cancer effect of gemcitabine chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer. The findings provide mechanistic support for the design of Can-Fite’s planned Phase IIb study evaluating namodenoson in combination with gemcitabine and additional standard-of-care therapy in patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
In pre-clinical studies the combination of namodenoson and gemcitabine increased the level of a protein, cleaved caspase-3, a central mediator of cell death (apoptosis). These findings indicate that namodenoson weakens the survival mechanisms of pancreatic cancer cells, thereby increasing their susceptibility to chemotherapy and enabling a stronger tumor cell-death response.
The new findings directly support the scientific rationale underlying Can-Fite’s planned randomized Phase IIb study in advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The proposed study will evaluate namodenoson in combination with gemcitabine and additional standard-of-care therapy, Nab-paclitaxel, building upon the favorable safety profile and encouraging clinical activity observed with namodenoson monotherapy in the Company’s Phase 2a pancreatic cancer study.
“These findings provide an important mechanistic explanation for the enhanced anti-cancer effect observed when namodenoson is combined with chemotherapy,” stated Pnina Fishman, Ph.D., Can-Fite’s Chief Scientific Officer and Chairperson. “Namodenoson suppressed key survival pathways in pancreatic cancer cells and increased caspase-3-mediated apoptosis, thereby enhancing the activity of gemcitabine. These results strongly support the combination approach incorporated into the design of our planned Phase IIb study.”
Clinical results from Can-Fite’s Phase 2a study of namodenoson in advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma have been accepted for presentation at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2026.
About Namodenoson
Namodenoson is a small orally bioavailable drug that binds with high affinity and selectivity to the A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR). Namodenoson is currently being evaluated in a pivotal Phase 3 trial for advanced liver cancer, concluded successfully a Phase 2a study in pancreatic cancer and is enrolling patients in a Phase 2b trial for the treatment of Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatohepatitis (MASH). A3AR is highly expressed in diseased cells whereas low expression is found in normal cells. This differential expression may be one of the important factors that accounts for the excellent safety profile of the drug.
About Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd.
Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE American: CANF) (TASE: CANF) is an advanced clinical stage drug development Company with a platform technology that is designed to address multi-billion dollar markets in the treatment of cancer, liver, and inflammatory disease. The Company’s lead drug candidate, Piclidenoson recently reported topline results in a Phase 3 trial for psoriasis and commenced a pivotal Phase 3 trial. Can-Fite’s liver drug, Namodenoson, is being evaluated in a Phase III trial for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a Phase 2b trial for the treatment of MASH, and in a Phase 2a study in pancreatic cancer. Namodenoson has been granted Orphan Drug Designation in the U.S. and Europe and Fast Track Designation as a second line treatment for HCC by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Namodenoson has also shown proof of concept to potentially treat other cancers including colon, prostate, and melanoma. CF602, the Company’s third drug candidate, has shown efficacy in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. These drugs have an excellent safety profile with experience in over 1,600 patients in clinical studies to date. For more information please visit: www.canfite.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements, about Can-Fite’s expectations, beliefs or intentions regarding, among other things, its product development efforts and plans to advance Namodenoson into a combination study. All statements in this communication, other than those relating to historical facts, are “forward looking statements”. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “should” or “anticipate” or their negatives or other variations of these words or other comparable words or by the fact that these statements do not relate strictly to historical or current matters. Forward-looking statements relate to anticipated or expected events, activities, trends or results as of the date they are made. Because forward-looking statements relate to matters that have not yet occurred, these statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Can-Fite’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include, among other things, our market and other conditions, history of losses and needs for additional capital to fund our operations and our inability to obtain additional capital on acceptable terms, or at all; uncertainties of cash flows and inability to meet working capital needs; the initiation, timing, progress and results of our preclinical studies, clinical trials and other product candidate development efforts; our ability to advance our product candidates into clinical trials or to successfully complete our preclinical studies or clinical trials; our receipt of regulatory approvals for our product candidates, and the timing of other regulatory filings and approvals; the clinical development, commercialization and market acceptance of our product candidates; our ability to establish and maintain strategic partnerships and other corporate collaborations; the implementation of our business model and strategic plans for our business and product candidates; the scope of protection we are able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering our product candidates and our ability to operate our business without infringing the intellectual property rights of others; competitive companies, technologies and our industry; risks related to not satisfying the continued listing requirements of NYSE American; and statements as to the impact of the political and security situation in Israel on our business. More information on these risks, uncertainties and other factors is included from time to time in the “Risk Factors” section of Can-Fite’s Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on March 26, 2026 and other public reports filed with the SEC and in its periodic filings with the TASE. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Can-Fite undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable securities laws.
Contact
Can-Fite BioPharma
Motti Farbstein
info@canfite.com
+972-3-9241114
