Press Release - Oslo, Norway, February 17, 2025: Photocure ASA (OSE: PHO), The
Bladder Cancer Company, announces an update regarding its ongoing collaboration
with Richard Wolf to develop a high-definition flexible blue light cystoscope
for global commercialization. The development process for an optimized solution
is progressing on plan, with an interim solution now available to centers in all
countries where System blue and other components are cleared.
A collaborative R&D process such as this sometimes yields new discoveries. An
interim solution for blue light flexible cystoscopy combining existing equipment
parts was born from that process. The interim solution makes the Richard Wolf
System blue platform compatible with one of its reusable flexible scopes.
The interim set up does not replace the optimized high-definition solution that
is under development. Yet it can serve an unmet need in bladder cancer, giving
urology centers the option of using blue light flexible cystoscopy, for example
in surveillance, until the new flexible HD scope becomes available. Photocure
and Richard Wolf will work with centers interested in purchasing the add-on
equipment, including delivery, set-up and training to utilize the interim
solution.
The strategic partnership between Photocure and Richard Wolf builds off a
longstanding relationship between the two companies associated with co
-promotion, disease awareness, education, market development, and clinical
research.
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About Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer ranks as the 8[th] most common cancer worldwide - the 5[th] most
common in men - with 1 949 000 prevalent cases (5-year prevalence rate)[1a],
614 000 new cases and more than 220 000 deaths in 2022.[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 BC 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 [February 2024].
[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.
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/bladder-cancer.html
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, New Zealand and Israel. Please refer
to https://photocure.com/partners/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/news
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