More light for Clinuvel
Tuesday, 23 September, 2008
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.
Overuse of inhalers can increase heart attack risk
Overuse of reliever inhalers is associated with higher risks of developing and dying from...
Unhealthy Western diet could accelerate cognitive decline
An unhealthy Western-style diet is associated with a faster cognitive decline in people with a...
Cancer drug enters clinical trials based on a false mechanism
A cancer drug currently being tested in patients appears to have entered clinical trials based on...
