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Press release - Oslo, Norway, July 5, 2022: Photocure ASA, The Bladder Cancer
Company, announces that its collaborations with capital equipment providers
support the most advanced technologies including recent blue light system
upgrades. These collaborations were most recently showcased at this year’s
European Association of Urology (EAU) Congress July 1-4, 2022, in Amsterdam. At
this Congress, Photocure’s commercial teams focused on making this first
opportunity to be present “in person” count in order to support its customers
and the Urology society.
The EAU saw the first public demonstration of Karl Storz’s new and improved Blue
Light System to be used with Photocure’s Hexvix[®] product for the detection of
NMIBC*. This new photodynamic diagnostics (PDD) system based on the new light
source POWER LED SAPHIRAT from KARL STORZ was featured on both companies’
exhibition stands at the EAU Congress, including on the Photocure Bladder Cancer
Awareness Bus.
Delegates could discover for themselves how the “IMAGE1 ST SAPHIRA[T]” system
improves visualization of bladder cancer via demonstrations and hands on
experience. Manufactured and soon to be commercialized by KARL STORZ, the new
Blue Light system is the next generation of equipment, designed to improve the
Blue Light experience and provide next-level visualization.
“Photodynamic diagnostics (PDD) is an important cornerstone of accurate
diagnosis and treatment of bladder cancer. This advancement in Blue Light
equipment will not only provide a better experience for our customers, but also
hopefully convince the remaining clinics of the benefits of this technology,”
commented Dr. Susanne Strauss, Vice President and General Manager, Europe at
Photocure. “We are proud to support our business partners in their equipment
launches and to co-create bladder cancer awareness initiatives to improve the
care of bladder cancer patients.” Strauss concluded.
“The new Blue Light System Powered by Saphira received significant attention and
praise in the U.S. at the American Urological Association congress in May” added
Geoff Coy, Vice President & General Manager North America. “With confidence
phase testing now complete, we expect roll-out of this high-definition system to
begin this month to raise the technology standard for Blue Light Cystoscopy in
the U.S., improve the experience of our customers, and to expand blue light
usage throughout North America.”
Photocure continues to partner with equipment providers to advance bladder
cancer awareness and understanding the science around blue light cystoscopy.
During the EAU congress, Photocure and Richard Wolf supported a scientific
session on Saturday, July 2, on the topic of “Photodynamic Diagnostics in
Bladder Cancer” within the “Technology developments never end!” section of the
program. Both companies also co-animated an exhibition area dedicated to the
benefits of Blue Light Cystoscopy (BLC[®]) using a high-definition system.
EAU as an in-person event once again provided Photocure’s European teams with
the opportunity to further collaborate with capital equipment providers to
advance the understanding and awareness of bladder cancer management. This year,
the Photocure booth featured the bladder cancer awareness bus parked in its
center. This bus, in partnership with the equipment suppliers, has already
brought bladder cancer awareness to several European countries and will continue
its voyage in 2023. When on tour, the bus provides hands-on BLC equipment
experience to healthcare professionals, and also aims to raise the awareness of
bladder cancer signs and symptoms for the general public.
*NMIBC: non-muscle invasive bladder cancer
Note to editors
Hexvix[®]/Cysview[®] and BLC[®] are registered trademarks of Photocure ASA.
IMAGE1 ST and SaphiraT are registered trademarks of KARL STORZ Endoscopy.
This press release may contain product details and information which are not
valid, or a product that is not accessible, in your country. Please be aware
that Photocure does not take any responsibility for accessing such information,
which may not comply with any legal process, regulation, registration, or usage
in the country of your origin.
About Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer ranks as the 8[th] most common cancer worldwide - the 5[th] most
common in men - with 1 720 000 prevalent cases (5-year prevalence rate)[1a],
573 000 new cases and more than 200 000 deaths annually in 2020.[1b]
Approx. 75% of all bladder cancer cases occur in men.[1] It has a high
recurrence rate, with up to 61% in year one and up to 78% over five years.[2]
Bladder cancer has the highest lifetime treatment costs per patient of all
cancers.[3]
Bladder cancer is a costly, potentially progressive disease for which patients
have to undergo multiple cystoscopies due to the high risk of recurrence. There
is an urgent need to improve both the diagnosis and the management of bladder
cancer for the benefit of patients and healthcare systems alike.
Bladder cancer is classified into two types, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer
(NMIBC) and muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), depending on the depth of
invasion in the bladder wall. NMIBC remains in the inner layer of cells lining
the bladder. These cancers are the most common (75%) of all cases and include
the subtypes Ta, carcinoma in situ (CIS), and T1 lesions. In MIBC, the cancer
has grown into deeper layers of the bladder wall. These cancers, including
subtypes T2, T3, and T4, are more likely to spread and are harder to treat.[4]
[1] Globocan. a) 5-year prevalence / b) incidence/mortality by population.
Available at: https://gco.iarc.fr/today, accessed [January 2022].
[2] Babjuk M, et al. Eur Urol. 2019; 76(5): 639-657
[3] Sievert KD et al. World J Urol 2009;27:295-300
[4] Bladder Cancer. American Cancer
Society. Bladder Cancer
About Hexvix[®]/Cysview[®] (hexaminolevulinate HCl)
Hexvix/Cysview is a drug that preferentially accumulates in cancer cells in the
bladder, making them glow bright pink during Blue Light Cystoscopy (BLC[®]). BLC
with Hexvix/Cysview, compared to standard white light cystoscopy alone, improves
the detection of tumors and leads to more complete resection, fewer residual
tumors, and better management decisions.
Cysview[ ]is the tradename in the U.S. and Canada, Hexvix[ ]is the tradename in
all other markets. Photocure is commercializing Cysview/Hexvix directly in the
U.S. and Europe and has strategic partnerships for the commercialization of
Hexvix/Cysview in China, Chile, Australia, and New Zealand. Please refer to
Our partners for further information on our
commercial partners.
About Photocure ASA
Photocure: The Bladder Cancer Company delivers transformative solutions to
improve the lives of bladder cancer patients. Our unique technology, making
cancer cells glow bright pink, has led to better health outcomes for patients
worldwide. Photocure is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, and listed on the Oslo
Stock Exchange (OSE: PHO). For more information, please visit us at
www.photocure.com, www.hexvix.com, www.cysview.com
For further information, please contact:
Dan Schneider
President and CEO
Photocure ASA
Email: ds@photocure.com
Erik Dahl
CFO
Photocure ASA
Tel: +4745055000
Email: ed@photocure.com
David Moskowitz
Vice President, Investor Relations
Photocure ASA
Tel: +1 202 280 0888
Email: david.moskowitz@photocure.com
Media and IR enquiries:
Geir Bjørlo
Corporate Communications (Norway)
Tel: +47 91540000
Email: geir.bjorlo@corpcom.no
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