Company Announcement
Tuesday 20th March 2007
Melbourne, Australia
New Oncology application identified for CUV1647
Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX:CUV, XETRA-DAX:UR9) is pleased to announce that it has identified a new oncology application for CUV1647. CUV1647 stimulates an increase in the production of the body’s natural photoprotective pigment, melanin. It is anticipated that CUV1647 will be shown to prevent the phototoxicity associated with Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) in cancer therapy.
Clinuvel has filed patent applications for the use of CUV1647 and any related compounds that serve as photoprotective agents for patients who have undergone PDT treatment.
This announcement further advances the company’s strategy to diversify the target medical indications for CUV1647. Applications to begin clinical trials in this new indication will soon be filed.
Background to Photodynamic Therapy
The four most common cancer therapies are surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy (PDT).
PDT was first used as a cancer therapy over 100 years ago. PDT uses laser, or other light sources, combined with a light sensitive drug (called photosensitising agent) to destroy cancer cells. This treatment is used in many cases where surgery is neither possible nor preferred. PDT is most frequently used in gastro-intestinal, esophageal, bladder, neurosurgical, prostate cancers/disorders and in wet age-related macular degeneration of the eyes.
One of the limiting factors and key side effects of PDT therapy is debilitating photosensitivity of skin and eyes to light (sunlight as well as artificial light). Patients suffer intense pain associated with this photosensitivity and are forced to avoid sunlight/artificial light for up to 90 days following treatment.
Clinuvel’s CEO, Dr Philippe Wolgen said:
“This adjunct treatment to PDT in oncology represents the fifth indication that Clinuvel is pursuing to gain market approval of CUV1647. We now have a comprehensive program of two clinical applications in cancer therapies and three in UV-related skin disorders. During the past year we have clinically validated CUV1647 for the use in Polymorphous Light Eruption (PLE/PMLE) and Erythropoietic Protoporphyria (EPP); the other indications are Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)/Actinic Keratosis (AK) in organ transplant patients, and Solar Urticaria (SU).”