Oslo, Norway, 17 June 2003.

PhotoCure ASA announces today that the Australian Drug Evaluation Committee (ADEC) recommends extension of the current marketing authorisation for Metvix® to include the treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC, the most common type of skin cancer). According to the ADEC recommendation, Metvix® is indicated for use in the primary treatment of BCC where surgery is considered inappropriate. The approval is subject to finalisation of the Product Information to the satisfaction of the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration). Approval for use in Aktinic Keratosis (AK or pre-malignant skin lesions) was granted in April 2003.

Australia constitutes a very important market for PhotoCure, as this is the country with the highest frequency of sun-induced skin diseases in the world. BCC is the most common cancer affecting Western industrialized countries, representing 40% of all cancers. The incidence of new cases is increasing by 5% per year in the USA and Australia.

Since most BCCs occur on sun-exposed areas such as the face and scalp, it has long been recognized that there is a clear medical need for an effective, non-invasive technique that will not leave scars.