Biotechnology company Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd (NYSE American: CANF) (TASE:CFBI), which has a pipeline of proprietary small molecule drugs that address cancer, liver and inflammatory diseases, reported on Monday that patients with decompensated cirrhosis, an advanced form of cirrhosis associated with liver failure for which there are no therapeutic options other than liver transplantation, will be treated with Namodenoson at the Soroka Medical Center in Israel under compassionate use.

The company stated that compassionate use allows doctors and their patients the option of early access to investigational new drugs, under closely controlled and monitored circumstances, when a patient who is facing serious illness has exhausted all available treatment options.

Namodenoson is a small orally bioavailable drug that binds with high affinity and selectivity to the A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR). The drug was evaluated in Phase II trials for two indications: as a second line treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer, as well as a treatment for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Enrolment is expected to commence in a Phase III trial of Namodenoson for HCC. Also, Namodenoson has been granted Orphan Drug Designation in the US and Europe and Fast Track Designation as a second line treatment for HCC by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Can-Fite has a platform technology that is designed to address the treatment of cancer, liver and inflammatory disease. Its lead drug candidate, Piclidenoson, recently reported topline results in a Phase III trial for psoriasis.