PDT recommended as first line treatment
Oslo, Norway, 5 January 2007
PDT recommended as first line treatment
New evidence-based international guidelines recommend topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) as first line treatment for precancerous lesions and for common forms of non-melanoma skin cancer.
The new guidelines, published in the January issue of the scientific Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, have been developed by an international consensus group consisting of specialists from Europe, Australia and the USA, following a scientific evaluation of clinical studies.
According to the guidelines, PDT is considered highly effective for superficial basal cell carcinoma, Bowen's disease and for the very common premalignant lesions called actinic keratoses, or solar keratoses. The guidelines state that PDT is especially good for treating larger areas with multiple lesions. PDT is recommended because it is a selective, non-invasive treatment that offers high cure rates, good to excellent cosmetic outcome and high tolerability among patients.
Kjetil Hestdal, President and CEO of Photocure ASA, comments: "This recommendation reflects the growing international acceptance of PDT as a preferred treatment for non-melanoma skin cancer. Moreover, it substantiates the importance and relevance of our long-term clinical studies with Metvix PDT."
The guidelines are in accordance with those issued in February last year by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), an independent UK organisation.
For further information, please contact:
President and CEO Kjetil Hestdal
E-mail: kh@photocure.no
Mobile: +47 913 19 535
Office: +47 22 06 22 10
CFO Christian Fekete
E-mail: cf@photocure.no
Mobile: +47 916 42 938
Office: +47 22 06 22 10
www.photocure.com
Photocure ASA is a Norwegian pharmaceutical company listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. The company develops and sells pharmaceuticals and medical devices for the photodynamic treatment and diagnosis of cancer.
Photocure has two proprietary pharmaceutical products on the market: Metvix®, for the treatment of sun-damaged skin and certain types of skin cancer, and Hexvix®, for the diagnosis of bladder cancer. In addition, the company has developed a proprietary light source, the AktiliteTM lamp, which is used in combination with the Metvix cream. Through worldwide studies, Photocure is continuously testing its products for new indications, and the aim is to develop a pipeline of follow-on products and technologies.
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an effective, targeted treatment that destroys cancer cells without harming surrounding tissue. Red light is used to activate a light sensitive substance that accumulates selectively in cancer cells.
Actinic keratoses (AK) is the most common premalignant skin lesion, frequently found on the hands, arms, head and other sun exposed areas. AK can develop into squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), which is an aggressive type of cancer that grows invasively into deeper layers of the skin and can spread and form metastases.
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common malignant skin cancer. They are locally aggressive tumours that rarely metastasise (spread to other organs), but destroy surrounding tissue.
Bowen's disease is a pre-stage of SCC where the tumour has not spread, but has the potential to progress into invasive squamous cell carcinoma. It usually looks like a slow growing red, scaly patch.