NEW META-ANALYSIS CONFIRMING THE CLINICAL BENEFIT OF HEXVIX®-GUIDED BLUE LIGHT CYSTOSCOPY PRESENTED AT EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION OF UROLOGY (EAU) CONGRESS, MILAN
Oslo, Norway, March 18 2013: Photocure ASA (OSE: PHO), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on photodynamic technologies in dermatology and cancer, announces that a new meta-analysis confirming the clinical benefit of Hexvix®-guided blue light cystoscopy for patients with known or suspected non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, was presented at the 28th Annual European Association of Urology (EAU) Congress in Milan on 17th March 2013. Hexvix is Photocure's flagship product to aid in the diagnosis and management of bladder cancer.
The abstract (No.577), presented by Professor Maximillian Burger (Würzburg, Germany), entitled Photodynamic diagnosis of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer with hexaminolevulinate cystoscopy: A meta-analysis was presented in the Urothelial cancer: Transurethral surgery and intravesical recurrence poster session on Sunday 17th March. The poster on Hexvix was selelected by the scientific organizers as one of the best posters presented at the conference.
The meta-analysis, which was conducted on raw data from eight Hexvix prospective studies and included a total of 1,293 patients, confirms previous studies and indicates that Hexvix cystoscopy significantly improves the detection of bladder cancer and reduces the risk of recurrence.
The EAU Congress is Europe's largest urology event, and provides the opportunity to hear first hand from the world's leading experts on findings and insights, as well as current trends that impact the treatment of urological diseases.
Kjetil Hestdal, President and Chief Executive Officer of Photocure, commented: "We are delighted that the organizers have accepted the data on Hexvix for presentation at this prestigious conference. Hexvix is the only approved diagnostic agent for bladder cancer and these data confirm previous findings on the effectiveness of Hexvix blue light cystoscopy as an adjunct to white light in bladder cancer detection and decreasing recurrence rates."
About Hexvix
Hexvix is the first approved drug-device combination procedure for improved detection and management of bladder cancer. It is designed to induce fluorescence in the malignant cells in the bladder during a cystoscopic procedure, making it easier for the urologist to detect non muscle invasive bladder cancer, as an adjunct to white light cystoscopy. It is the first product in a new diagnostic class known as Photodynamic Diagnostic (PDD) agents. Hexvix is an approved product in Europe and the US. Photocure markets and sells Hexvix in the Nordic region, and has initiated the commercialization of Cysview directly in the US. Ipsen is commercializing Hexvix in Europe excluding Nordics.
For further information, please contact:
Photocure
President & CEO Kjetil Hestdal
Tel: + 47 913 19 535, Email: kh@photocure.no
M: Communications
Mary Clark, Amber Bielecka, Hollie Vile
Tel: +44 207920 2361, Email: photocure@mcomgroup.com
About Photocure ASA
Photocure ASA, headquartered in Oslo Norway, is a specialty pharmaceutical company and world leader in photodynamic technology. Based on our unique proprietary Photocure Technology(TM) platform, Photocure develops and commercializes highly selective and effective solutions within disease areas with high unmet medical need, such as bladder cancer, HPV and precancerous cervical lesions, colorectal cancer and skin conditions. Our aim is to provide solutions which can improve health outcomes for patients worldwide. Photocure is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE: PHO). Information about Photocure is available at www.photocure.com.
All trademarks mentioned in this release are protected by law and registered trademarks of Photocure.