Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd., a biotechnology company with a pipeline of proprietary small molecule drugs being developed to treat inflammatory diseases, cancer and sexual dysfunction, announced that its subsidiary, OphthaliX has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Israel-based Improved Vision Systems Ltd. (I.V.S.).

Under the terms of the agreement, in exchange for I.V.S. becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of OphthaliX, OphthaliX will issue to the sellers and option holders of I.V.S. at the initial closing such number of shares of OphthaliX common stock and OphthaliX options equal to an aggregate of approximately 14 per cent of the issued and outstanding capital stock of OphthaliX on a fully diluted basis immediately following the initial closing.

In addition, OphthaliX has agreed to issue to the sellers and option holders of I.V.S. such number of shares of OphthaliX common stock and OphthaliX options equal to an aggregate of approximately 11 per cent of the issued and outstanding capital stock of OphthaliX on a fully diluted basis upon the attainment of certain milestones. The closing of the acquisition is subject to certain closing conditions including the raising of capital by OphthaliX and an up-listing of OphthaliX to a national securities exchange in the United States. No shares of OphthlaliX's parent company, Can-Fite BioPharma, will be issued as a part of this transaction.

I.V.S. develops breakthrough medical device technologies to improve sight, diagnose and offer therapy for a variety of ocular diseases including glaucoma, age related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy and oculo-motor pathologies, addressing multi-billion dollar markets. I.V.S. is developing two types of products: (1) an indoor eye tracking solution, attachable to any screen including TVs, computers, tablets, etc., that manipulates the image shown to the user in such a way as to best compensate for such user's specific clinical impairment; and (2) a goggles-based mobile device which generates high definition displays  that are manipulated and moved based on the device's ability to track each eye individually, thus restoring mobility and independence to visually impaired people.

OphthaliX is committed to continuing its development programme for its drug candidate CF101, a neuro-protective and anti-inflammatory drug, for the treatment of glaucoma. Patients are currently enrolled for the second segment of the phase II study and are treated orally with CF101.

Upon initial closing, I.V.S. executives Ran Yam and Dan Oz will join OphthaliX's board of directors. Additionally, upon initial closing Ran Yam will be appointed chief executive officer of OphthaliX and Dan Oz chief technology officer, bringing their long and successful track records in the medical device field to the company.

"We are thrilled to take this important step towards acquiring I.V.S and are excited about the potential of this acquisition as we pursue our strategy of re-positioning OphthaliX as a company that addresses substantial ophthalmologic markets through both medical devices and pharmaceutical products," stated Can-Fite and OphthaliX chief executive officer, Dr. Pnina Fishman. "We welcome the I.V.S. team to OphthaliX."

Ran Yam, I.V.S., chief executive officer said "There are significant synergies between OphthaliX and I.V.S. and we believe that our combined pharmaceutical and medical device development programme presents a compelling opportunity. The visions of the OphthaliX team and I.V.S. team are shared and we look forward to working together."

CF101, an A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR) agonist, is a novel, first in class small molecule orally bioavailable drug which binds with high affinity and selectivity to the A3AR, which is known to be over-expressed in inflammatory cells. The drug acts as a neuro-protective agent and prevents apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells.