Strengthens global IP and supports strategic positioning in the rapidly growing metabolic therapeutics market  Ramat Gan, Israel, March  17, 2026  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE:CANF) (TASE:CANF), a

CANF

Can-Fite Expands Namodenoson anti-Obesity Franchise with Israeli Patent Allowance

Can-Fite Strengthens Patent Portfolio for Namodenoson in Metabolic Market

<section class="insight" data-version="1">
  <section data-block="information">
    <h3>Information</h3>
    <p>Strengthens global IP and supports strategic positioning in the rapidly growing metabolic therapeutics market  Ramat Gan, Israel, March  17, 2026  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE:CANF) (TASE:CANF), a</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="ai-summary-paragraph">
    <h3>AI Summary</h3>
    <p>Can-Fite BioPharma has received a patent allowance for Namodenoson, enhancing its position in the rapidly growing obesity treatment market, projected to reach $60.5 billion by 2030. This strengthens Can-Fite&#039;s intellectual property and could lead to potential partnership opportunities. The company&#039;s focus on Namodenoson positions it well amidst increasing demand for obesity therapies.</p>
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  <section data-block="ai-summary-bullets">
    <h3>Key Points</h3>
    <ul><li>Can-Fite&#039;s patent for Namodenoson allows fat loss treatment.</li><li>Namodenoson&#039;s market potential is bolstered by a $60.5 billion obesity market forecast.</li><li>The growing obesity therapeutics market is seeing rapid growth due to increasing demand.</li><li>Namodenoson has shown promise in clinical studies for obesity and metabolic disorders.</li><li>Intellectual property portfolio strengthens with new patent approvals in key markets.</li></ul>
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  <section data-block="companies-mentioned">
    <h3>Companies Mentioned</h3>
    <ul><li><strong>N/A (N/A)</strong>: No competitors mentioned, but obesity market dynamics favor innovative treatments.</li></ul>
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  <section data-block="category">
    <h3>Corporate Developments</h3>
    <p>This falls under &#039;Corporate Developments&#039; as Can-Fite enhances its patent portfolio, crucial for securing competitive advantage in a rapidly growing market segment.</p>
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  <section data-block="market-moving">
    <h3>Market-Moving</h3>
    <ul><li>Patent allowance could lead to increased partnerships and revenue streams for CANF.</li><li>Positive peer-reviewed study may attract investor attention and stimulate share price appreciation.</li><li>Rapid growth of obesity therapeutics may enhance potential market value for Namodenoson.</li></ul>
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  <section data-block="key-facts">
    <h3>Key Facts</h3>
    <ul><li>Namodenoson targets fat loss and obesity-related metabolic disorders.</li><li>Global obesity treatment market projected to reach $60.5 billion by 2030.</li><li>Namodenoson is in pivotal Phase III trials for liver cancer and Phase II trials for MASH.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="trading-thesis">
    <h3>Trading Thesis</h3>
    <p>Consider buying CANF in anticipation of increased market recognition and potential partnerships in the obesity sector over the next 12 months.</p>
  </section>
</section>


<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.globenewswire.com/styles/gnw_nitf.css"></link><p align="center"><i>Strengthens global IP and supports strategic positioning in the rapidly growing metabolic therapeutics market</i></p>  <p>Ramat Gan, Israel, March  17, 2026  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=9jkYKmBgQX0-ous69nrADJYxS1GAp_ucHKgO-hGfAt25Nx0hRBG3MFwwX8hJlv__3H6sW3U2dVbkcYlKk-Nk3OVeKLaMc_eFczQ2K5sREhc=" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd</a>. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CANF">CANF</a>) (TASE:CANF), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a pipeline of proprietary small molecule drugs targeting oncological and inflammatory diseases, today announced that the Israeli Patent Office has allowed its patent application No. 284463, titled "An A3 Adenosine Receptor Ligand for Use for Achieving a Fat Loss Effect." The allowed patent covers the use of A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR) agonists, including the Company's lead drug candidate Namodenoson, for inducing fat loss and treating obesity and related metabolic disorders.</p>  <p>This allowance represents a key addition to Can-Fite's expanding global intellectual property portfolio around Namodenoson's anti-obesity activity and follows similar patent advancements in other major jurisdictions including the US, Canada and Australia, strengthening the Company's worldwide protection strategy. Recently the technology granted scientific recognition upon coming up with a  breakthrough publication of peer-reviewed study in the International Journal of Obesity, demonstrating the anti-obesity effect of namodenoson (<a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=zW8U2qU_TXuxtoiBWcrqRvNM2m4Pk5p7vmvFdUBQ4VkTGhYwE0j1fKSZ64hpTAZeAyHjhrJfbEp3DaY9oCaFNI1Fg4yotT_Y5arDVnnRpM_TPkKOMA9dBUAzQaLAB-9Plem8XJbtq5yEm2N5Af9Xn4pbzUUmoW2V7KEKI6jxxdB81QmMb5sxcSSzW-P9gWM62nPfj9Co-Izk8yat2BFk3N8BwRdomfZCzbmgd3zUnfXcLs9TyewpKZG_f5u5kb6CH2jjPjGM0-wmGGeY9t8QoHsXT9vdJkRabmYN8lAWZQeMBSFGrhPvMHIU2yv0_7CR4Qzks-WO6Gc0bOk8PyT9J0f5zsk9f5bMCthv0FI2Pz4zgSiY4hmmM5RVCXh7lPKJ27KHjANz9VEB8fYNi3qz34yYl4TsMXW5ow6rSWeLcjuEtI7bjV3igC4yZMnrYXVqviqxHV6JLQ-htqv4f9Pk2TLHagf3FbIeTIL9p0rXz4vvBXDOPrAtxLD7uhs_Pd04YoRev8179SQkrph_BkXwInGjTa2R96y5FJqaC4PYvDmbE1-6dNT5pyErgs_QtJBUYA0ltTcmDPjSrjudCM_PiwfCeCWqXPmJ141HzZMBFcU=" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://rdcu.be/e37sf</a> ).</p>  <p>The global obesity therapeutics market is experiencing rapid growth, driven by increasing prevalence and the success of GLP-1 receptor agonists. However, current treatments are often associated with limitations including gastrointestinal side effects and high cost. Namodenoson, a highly selective A3AR agonist, offers a differentiated mechanism of action, targeting key pathways involved in adipogenesis, inflammation, and metabolic regulation. Preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated its potential to reduce fat accumulation and improve metabolic profiles, positioning it as a promising candidate in the expanding obesity treatment landscape.</p>  <p align="justify">"With the allowance of this patent in Israel, we continue to build and strengthen our intellectual property portfolio around Namodenoson's anti-obesity activity," said Dr. Pnina Fishman, Chairperson and Chief Scientific Officer of Can-Fite. "Given the significant unmet need and rapid growth of the obesity market, we believe Namodenoson's unique mechanism and established safety profile position it as an attractive candidate for development and potential partnering opportunities."</p>  <p align="justify">The global obesity treatment market is projected to reach $60.5 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 22%, driven by increasing disease prevalence and demand for safe, effective oral therapies.</p>  <p align="justify"><b>About Namodenoson</b></p>  <p align="justify">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 III trial for advanced liver cancer, a Phase IIb trial for the treatment of Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatohepatitis (MASH), and in a Phase IIa study in pancreatic cancer. 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.</p>  <p><b>About Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd.</b></p>  <p align="justify">Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CANF">CANF</a>) (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&#39;s lead drug candidate, Piclidenoson recently reported topline results in a Phase III trial for psoriasis and is expected to commence a pivotal Phase III. Can-Fite&#39;s liver drug, Namodenoson, is being evaluated in a Phase III trial for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a Phase IIb trial for the treatment of MASH, and in a Phase IIa 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&#39;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: <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=lM82q8NfS86B0reBBG7EIm42HhK5-dfe61KjbW4ARbSKAXAwitWjERwnHxF15MWA97MyQg7ePfC7J72Vk6ybbp4ICYrY5sRuXNh6uG5WLvA=" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.can-fite.com</a>.</p>  <p align="justify"><b>Forward-Looking Statements</b></p>  <p align="justify">This press release may contain forward-looking statements, about Can-Fite's expectations, beliefs or intentions regarding, among other things, its product development efforts, business, financial condition, results of operations, strategies or prospects. 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 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 any resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war between Israel and Hamas; 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 April 14, 2025 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.</p>  <p align="justify">Contact</p>  <p align="justify">Can-Fite BioPharma</p>  <p align="justify">Motti Farbstein</p>  <p align="justify"><a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=G6mfU29Bec4aOZmAO82Tlh7ESJOUPX7JzBmvbiqoC3kJkEI-U7wsVnPx956D_jpmJo0pedA0Cw-sld5e_Z_ej2WWaWdm1Nzwf7KKlpF8ewU=" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">info@canfite.com</a></p>  <p>+972-3-9241114</p> <img alt="" class="__GNW8366DE3E__IMG" src="https://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/ti?nf=OTY3MzQzNiM3NDg5NDgxIzUwMDA2NjI5Mw=="></img> <br></br><img alt="" src="https://ml.globenewswire.com/media/MWE5ZTRiNWUtODJlYy00OTVlLWE5ZmUtZGI1MGFkMmUzYzAwLTUwMDA2NjI5My0yMDI2LTAzLTE3LWVu/tiny/Can-Fite-BioPharma-Ltd-.png" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></img><p><a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ca5e71b0-5c40-4d54-96ce-7ce704201c96"><img src="https://ml.globenewswire.com/media/ca5e71b0-5c40-4d54-96ce-7ce704201c96/small/can-fite-biopharma-logo-jpg.jpg" border="0" width="150" height="150" alt="Primary Logo"></img></a></p>

Can-Fite BioPharma has received a patent allowance for Namodenoson, enhancing its position in the rapidly growing obesity treatment market, projected to reach $60.5 billion by 2030. This strengthens Can-Fite's intellectual property and could lead to potential partnership opportunities. The company's focus on Namodenoson positions it well amidst increasing demand for obesity therapies.

Can-Fite Expands Namodenoson anti-Obesity Franchise with Israeli Patent Allowance

AI Summary

Sentiment Rationale

Trading Thesis

Market-Moving

Key Facts

Companies Mentioned

Corporate Developments

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