Oslo, Norway,  18 August 2006

PhotoCure's study for treatment of acne is published in the British Journal of Dermatology (BJD). The study was performed in 2005 at three Nordic centres, with Professor Anne-Marie Wennberg, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, as the main investigator.

The study is a blinded, randomized, and placebo-controlled trial comparing PhotoCure's patented MAL cream to placebo cream for the treatment of moderate to severe facial acne in 30 patients. Each side of the patients face was randomly assigned to treatment with MAL or placebo cream, applied for 3 hours prior to illumination by PhotoCure's Aktilite lamp. The results showed a 54% reduction in number of inflammatory lesions in the MAL treated area, and 20% reduction in the placebo treated area. Side effects associated with MAL PDT include pain and redness. The authors conclude that MAL PDT is an efficacious treatment for moderate to severe acne, and that futher studies are warranted to optimize this promising procedure. This study confirm the efficacy results published from a similar study by Prof. Wulf last year in BJD.

Dr. Kjetil Hestdal, President and CEO of PhotoCure, comments: "We are pleased that the study clearly demonstrates the concept of MAL PDT in treatment of moderate to severe acne."

Acne is a common skin condition which affects up to 85% of adolescents. Of those who seek medical advice, about 50% have moderate and 20% have severe acne. Current therapies for these patients include oral antibiotics and isotretinoin, both products that may have significant adverse effects. There is thus a clear medical need for a safe and efficacious topical treatment for acne patients.