Can-Fite Develops a Blood Test to Predict Patients' Response to the Company Drugs.

The Test Measures Blood Levels of the A3 Adenosine Receptor, the Target Attacked by Can-Fite's Drugs; the Test Will Predict Patient's Response to Treatment; the Company Has Applied for a Patent to Protect This Technology

PETACH TIKVA, Israel -- Can-Fite BioPharma (TASE:CFBI), a biotechnology company traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, completed the development of a blood test that determines the mRNA expression levels of the A3 adenosine receptor. The latter is a G protein cell surface receptor, highly expressed in inflammatory and cancer cells and has low expression in normal cells. The Company drugs target with high affinity and selectivity this cell surface receptor.

The blood test, which was developed by Can-Fite scientists, requires minute blood quantities and can be analyzed by qualified labs. Company scientists have also found that the blood levels of this receptor reflect its status in the remote pathological organ. The Company has applied for a patent to protect its newly developed blood test.

Previous clinical trials conducted by the Company in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients have shown statistically significant correlation between receptor levels at base line and patients' response to CF101, the company lead drug candidate. These results indicate that the blood test predicts patient's response to the drug prior to treatment initiation. A manuscript summarizing these data was recently accepted for publication by Journal of Rheumatology and will be published shortly.

Prof. Pnina Fishman, CEO of Can-Fite, said today that "the simple and rapid blood test would allow the Company to test for the presence of the target during advanced international clinical trials and this would confirm that the test is capable of predicting treatment response. In the next step the Company will consider issuing a marketing license for this test, which will utilize the A3 adenosine receptor as a biological marker to predict patient response to the drug."

Can-Fite recently reported the completion of preclinical trials in the US with CF102, the Company's second molecule in development, for the treatment of liver cancer and hepatitis. The Company estimates that CF102 will enter clinical trials shortly.

Can-Fite Biopharma Ltd is a public company traded on the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange. The Company, which commenced business activity in 2000, was founded by researcher Prof. Pnina Fishman and patent attorney Dr. Ilan Cohn. The Company focuses on the development of small molecule-based drugs which target the A3 adenosine receptor and inhibit the development of cancer or inflammatory cells. The market for the company's drugs is estimated at billions of dollars.

Can-Fite develops targeted drugs that specifically attack affected cells without compromising normal body systems, and therefore have a favorable safety profile. The Company's drugs are based on a scientific concept, which was proven in trials, suggesting that the A3 adenosine receptor, the target of the drug is only expressed on the surface of affected cells. The Company has recently developed a procedure that uses pre-treatment blood tests to determine the receptor level, which may be indicative of treatment response.

The Company's lead drug, CF101 has completed a multinational study in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and plans to continue to develop the drug for this indication. CF101 is also in clinical development for two other indications: Dry Eye Syndrome, for which a Phase II study is ongoing and Psoriasis where a Phase II study has recently started. The Company is also developing another small molecule drug, CF102, for treatment of liver cancer and hepatitis. CF102 is in pre-clinical development and the development is on target for filing an IND towards the end of this year and the onset of Phase I study shortly thereafter. The company also has a number of other small molecule drugs in earlier stages of development.