NEWS

Early stage study results have shown an antitumor effect and induced systemic immune effects of hexaminolevulinate (HAL) and blue light in an orthotopic model of rat bladder cancer. Photocure has the intention to further investigate Hexvix for its therapeutic effect and the patent is a result of Photocure’s continued focus on securing intellectual property rights for its research results and pipeline activities.

The patent was issued on 11 February 2020 and will expire in December 2036.
* Neoadjuvant therapy: treatment (such as chemotherapy) administered before primary cancer treatment (such as surgery) to enhance the outcome of primary treatment

For more information, please contact:
Dan Schneider
President and CEO
Photocure ASA
Tel: + 1-609 759-6515
Email: ds@photocure.com

Erik Dahl
CFO
Photocure ASA
Tel: +4745055000
Email: ed@photocure.com

About Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer ranks as the sixth most common cancer worldwide with 1 650 000 prevalent cases (5-year prevalence rate), 550 000 new cases and almost 200 000 deaths annually in 2018.¹

Approx. 75% of all bladder cancer cases occur in men.¹ It has a high recurrence rate with an average of 61% in year one and 78% over five years.² Bladder cancer has the highest lifetime treatment costs per patient of all cancers.³

Bladder cancer is a costly, potentially progressive disease for which patients have to undergo multiple cystoscopies due to the high risk of recurrence. There is an urgent need to improve both the diagnosis and the management of bladder cancer for the benefit of patients and healthcare systems alike. 

Bladder cancer is classified into two types, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), depending on the depth of invasion in the bladder wall. NMIBC remains in the inner layer of cells lining the bladder. These cancers are the most common (75%) of all BC cases and include the subtypes Ta, carcinoma in situ (CIS) and T1 lesions. In MIBC the cancer has grown into deeper layers of the bladder wall. These cancers, including subtypes T2, T3 and T4, are more likely to spread and are harder to treat.⁴

About Hexvix^®/Cysview^® (hexaminolevulinate HCl)
Hexvix^®/Cysview^® is a drug that is selectively taken up by tumor cells in the bladder making them glow bright pink during Blue Light Cystoscopy (BLC^TM). BLC™ with Hexvix^® /Cysview^® improves the detection of tumors and leads to more complete resection, fewer residual tumors and better management decisions.

Cysview^® is the tradename in the US and Canada, Hexvix^® is the tradename in all other markets. Photocure is commercializing Cysview^® / Hexvix^® directly in the US and the Nordic region and has strategic partnerships for the commercialization of Hexvix^® / Cysview^® in Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Please refer to https://bit.ly/2wzqSQQ for further information on our commercial partners.

All trademarks mentioned in this release are protected by law and are registered trademarks of Photocure ASA

This press release may contain product details and information which are not valid, or a product is not accessible, in your country. Please be aware that Photocure does not take any responsibility for accessing such information which may not comply with any legal process, regulation, registration or usage in the country of your origin.

About Photocure ASA
Photocure: The Bladder Cancer Company delivers transformative solutions to improve the lives of bladder cancer patients. Our unique technology, which makes cancer cells glow bright pink, has led to better health outcomes for patients worldwide. Photocure is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE: PHO).  For more information, please visit us at www.photocure.com, www.hexvix.com or www.cysview.com

References

¹ Globocan. Incidence/mortality by population. Available at: http://globocan.iarc.fr/Pages/bar_pop_sel.aspx 
² Babjuk M, et al. Eur Urol. 2019; 76(5): 639-657

³ Sievert KD et al. World J Urol 2009;27:295–300

⁴ Bladder Cancer. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/bladder-cancer.html

See original press release HERE.