More light for Clinuvel

Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals (ASX: CUV) has begun phase II trials of its photoprotective drug afamelanotide (CUV1657) in patients undergoing photodynamic therapy (PDT).

The trial is being conducted in a Parisian hospital and will extend to multiple health-care centres in France.

The first four of an anticipated 30 patients have been dosed, and results are expected within 12 months.

PDT is used to eradicate pre-malignant lesions of the oesophagus and as a palliative therapy in bile duct cancer. It involves administration of porfimer sodium, a photosensitiser, and a targeted light source.

One side effect is phototoxicity, with patients unable to tolerate UV light. Clinuvel anticipates that afamelanotide may offer a photoprotective effect.

Clinuvel is currently in Phase III trials of CUV1657 in erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), or abnormal sun sensitivity.