Photodynamic therapy approved in UK:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Canadian company QLT PhotoTherapeutics has been granted marketing clearance in the UK for Photofrin (porfimer sodium), its light-activated drug treatment for late-stage lung cancer and oesophageal cancer. The drug is already available in France, Germany and the Netherlands where it is being marketed by the Vancouver-based company's partner Beafour Ipsen. It is also awaiting US approval after being backed by an FDA advisory panel in September 1998 (Clinica No 824, p 13). Photofrin is activated by non-thermal laser light produced by instruments available from a number of companies. In Europe these include lasers developed for photodynamic therapy by Laserscope, Coherent Medical Group and Diomed.