April 13, 2012 — Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a potential treatment regime for a number of conditions. It involves introducing particular light-sensitive chemical species into biological systems, inducing them to localize at the point of interest, and then irradiating them with a light source.
It holds particular promise as a treatment to combat certain cancers, and the latest results from trials using a system developed by Ontario-based Theralase have shown that PDT was able to completely destroy subcutaneous colon cancer tumors in a mouse model. Four weeks after treatment, the mice remained free of cancer.
“The achievement of this important milestone signifies that Theralase’s leading drug candidate is effective in the destruction of cancer in a live animal model and can prevent the cancer from recurring,” commented Roger White of Theralase. “We are confident that Theralase is well positioned to expedite the required steps to initiate human trials in the near future.”
Those trials could begin as soon as next year. White envisages a clinical road map in which a three-stage program of FDA-moderated human clinical trials could start in 2013, and be completed in 2019.
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Source: Theralase, theralase.com
