RAMAT GAN, Israel, July 20, 2026
Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE American: CANF) announced that positive Phase 2a clinical trial results evaluating Namodenoson in patients with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) have been accepted for poster presentation at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2026, one of the world’s leading scientific meetings in oncology. The accepted abstract, titled “Durable Disease Stabilization with Namodenoson in Advanced Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: Results from a Phase 2a Study,” highlights encouraging findings in a difficult-to-treat patient population with limited therapeutic options. The presentation represents an important scientific milestone for Can-Fite, providing international recognition of its pancreatic cancer development program while showcasing clinical evidence supporting the continued advancement of Namodenoson, the company’s highly selective A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR) agonist, as a potential treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer.
Phase 2a Study Demonstrates Durable Disease Stabilization and Encouraging Survival
The Phase 2a trial evaluated oral Namodenoson in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer whose disease had progressed after receiving prior standard therapies. Most participants had third-line pancreatic cancer, representing a patient population with extremely poor prognosis and very limited treatment options. The study successfully achieved its primary safety endpoint while demonstrating encouraging survival outcomes together with durable disease stabilization. Notably, one patient who received Namodenoson as second-line therapy continues to remain alive more than 18 months after treatment, highlighting the potential durability of clinical benefit in selected patients. According to the company, the favorable safety profile combined with meaningful disease stabilization provides additional support for advancing Namodenoson into larger clinical studies aimed at improving outcomes in one of the deadliest forms of cancer.
Namodenoson Targets Cancer Cells Through a Novel Mechanism
Namodenoson is an orally bioavailable, highly selective A3 adenosine receptor agonist designed to selectively induce apoptosis in cancer cells while sparing normal healthy tissues because A3AR is highly expressed in diseased cells but minimally expressed in normal cells. This unique mechanism is believed to contribute to the drug’s excellent safety profile, which has been demonstrated across more than 1,600 patients enrolled in clinical studies. Beyond pancreatic cancer, Namodenoson is currently being evaluated in a pivotal Phase 3 trial for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and a Phase 2b trial in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Preclinical research has also demonstrated anti-tumor activity across several malignancies, including colon cancer, prostate cancer, melanoma, and pancreatic cancer, supporting the broad therapeutic potential of the company’s A3AR-targeting platform.
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ESMO Recognition Supports Next Phase of Clinical Development
Presentation at ESMO Congress 2026 provides significant international visibility for Can-Fite’s oncology pipeline and validates the scientific importance of the company’s pancreatic cancer research. Building on the positive Phase 2a findings, Can-Fite is now preparing a Phase 2b clinical trial that will evaluate Namodenoson in combination with chemotherapy, supported by encouraging clinical observations and preclinical studies demonstrating synergistic anti-tumor activity. The company believes combination therapy may further improve treatment outcomes for patients with advanced PDAC, an aggressive malignancy that remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Additional details regarding the ESMO poster presentation, including the presentation date, session information, and poster number, will be announced according to conference guidelines. The latest milestone further strengthens Can-Fite’s strategy of advancing innovative targeted therapies for cancers with significant unmet medical need while expanding the clinical potential of Namodenoson across multiple oncology indications.
Source: Can-Fite BioPharma press release
