Breakthrough Study From UCLA Demonstrates Can-Fite’s Piclidenoson as a Treatment for Vascular Dementia

Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. recently announced a leading group from University of Los Angeles (UCLA) demonstrates that Piclidenoson showed efficacy in an experimental model of vascular dementia.

The study headed by Dr.  S. Thomas Carmichael, MD, PhD, Professor and Chair Frances Stark Chair, Department of Neurology, Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, utilized  a vascular dementia mouse model with focal ischemia replicating many elements of the complex pathophysiology of human vascular dementia. Piclidenoson was found to restore tissue integrity and behavioral function in this vascular dementia model.

Vascular dementia is the second most common cause of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease, and caused by impaired blood flow to the brain, often due to stroke or chronic small vessel disease. There are no US FDA-approved therapies for this condition. Drugs that are used off-label, including donepezil or memantine, are used symptomatically or to address co-morbidities. Additionally, antihypertensives, antiplatelets, and statins are used to prevent further vascular damage, but none of these medications are disease-modifying. Nevertheless, due to an aging population and increasing diagnosis, the global market for Vascular Dementia is estimated at $6 billion as of 2025, with an expected CAGR of 5% through 2035.

“A first-in-class agent such as Piclidenoson that could provide neuroprotection and improve vascular health would fill a significant unmet need and likely capture a large share of the growing Vascular Dementia market.,” said Pnina Fishman, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of Can-Fite BioPharma.

Piclidenoson is a highly selective A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR) agonist, which has shown a compelling safety profile in hundreds of patients with Psoriasis and demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity in Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical studies.

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, visit www.can-fite.com.