Important PhotoCure patent granted in US

PhotoCure’s patent application on esters of 5-aminolevulinic (ALA-esters) acid has been granted in the United States on 7th March 2000. The patent (no. 6,034,267) covers not only the active ingredient in PhotoCure’s first product Metvix®, but also other ALA derivatives for new products.

Metvix® is a novel medicinal product being developed for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of non-melanoma skin cancer and premalignant skin disorders. Metvix® is already being tested in a broad clinical investigational program involving 52 clinical centres in 12 European countries, and a Market Authorisation Application (MAA) is planned to be submitted in Europe during year 2000. PhotoCure ASA has recently received approval from US health authorities (Food and Drug Administration, FDA) to start clinical trials in USA.

”The grant of the US patent constitutes an important milestone for the company”, says President & CEO Professor Vidar Hansson. The patent has already been granted in Australia and Singapore.

Metvix® has until now been investigated in more than 2000 patients in controlled clinical trials and the results so far show that it is an effective and safe treatment. The advantage of Metvix® compared to traditional treatment is that Metvix® PDT gives an outstanding cosmetic result and is more comfortable for the patient.

PhotoCure ASA is a Norwegian company founded in 1993. PhotoCure ASA mission is to develop and sell pharmaceuticals and medical devices for photodynamic therapy (PDT) and diagnosis of cancer and pre-malignant diseases. All of the company’s products are based on proprietary technology from the Norwegian Radium Hospital, the largest comprehensive cancer centre in Northern Europe. The first products, Metvix® and Curelight are being tested in final registration studies (phase III) for non melanoma skin cancer (Basal Cell Carcinoma) and Actinic Keratosis (pre-cancerous skin lesion) and the company plans to file its first Market Authorisation Application during year 2000.