On March 24, 2025 Photocure ASA (OSE: PHO), the Bladder Cancer Company, reported two abstract presentations at the 2025 European Association of Urology congress (EAU) in Madrid, Spain, highlighting the benefits of Blue Light Cystoscopy (BLC), notably its impact on recurrence risk and ability to help urologists make the best bladder cancer management choices for their patients (Press release, PhotoCure, MAR 24, 2025, View Source [SID1234651377]).
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The EAU annual meeting is one of the largest international meetings in the urology calendar, showcasing the latest and most relevant clinical and scientific advancements in this area of patient care. This year’s event was held on March 21-24, 2025, and attracted urologists from all over the world. Photocure participated with its Hexvix product designed for better detection and resection of bladder tumors under the theme that "Seeing is believing". As in the past two years, Photocure will make 2025 EAU bladder cancer session highlights available to healthcare professionals after the event, by means of video interviews with the presenters of these sessions at the Photocure booth B28. This successful initiative is once again supported by two of the leading names in Bladder Cancer in Europe, Prof. M. Rouprêt, APHP, Sorbonne University Paris, France and Prof. P. Gontero, Division of Urology, University of Studies of Torino, Italy.
In addition to this educational activity, the EAU scientific program prominently features Photocure’s Hexvix product and/or the blue light cystoscopy procedure in which it is used. In particular, two notable abstract presentations were:
The impact of PDD on recurrence and progression in BCG-treated NMIBC* patients: a nationwide follow-up study (Abstract session 39: Sunday, March 23rd, 5:15pm CET – NMIBC: Advances in diagnosis and follow-up)
This nationwide cohort study investigates the association of PDD on recurrence and progression risk in BCG-treated NMIBC patients, using Danish registry data from 2009-2022 assessing patients treated with BCG for primary NMIBC.
In the study, 4318 patients from the Danish registry were identified with a first-time NMIBC diagnosis that were treated with BCG. Of the study subjects, 2388 (55%) of patients were diagnosed with the assistance of PDD. Basic demographics, stage and grade was comparable between the two groups. There were no differences in BCG-response across exposure groups. Age adjusted relative risk of recurrence was 0.88 (0.79 – 0.97) and 0.97 (0.89 – 1.05) at 1 and 5 years, respectively for the PDD-group compared to the non PDD-group. Age adjusted relative risk for progression was 0.93 (0.73 – 1.19) and 1.01 (0.84 – 1.21) at 1 and 5 years, respectively for the PDD-group.
The authors conclude that, since the BCG-response across exposures were equal, the reduced risk of recurrence at 1 year was likely due to the detection effect of PDD: "The present study did not support the hypothesis of PDD modulating the BCG-response in NMIBC patients, suggesting a different mechanism for the impact of PDD on recurrence and progression in BCG-treated NMIBC patients."
Read the abstract: View Source
Trans Urethral Laser Ablation of bladder tumors under local anesthesia: A prospective study of pain and recurrences
(Abstract session 50: Monday, March 24th, 12:30pm CET – NMIBC: Innovations and outcomes 2)
This study investigated the short- and long-term oncology safety regarding recurrence and progression as well as perioperative pain after office-based Transurethral Laser Ablation (TULA) or fulguration by PDD-assisted flexible cystoscopy.
This prospective observational study enrolled eligible patients from August 2017 to June 2022 at Oslo University Hospital. 329 patients were enrolled, with a median age of 74 years. The median NRS (numeric rating scale) for perioperative pain was 4 (IQR: 3-5) for both the laser and fulguration group. The 12-month relapse-free survival (RFS) was 91% overall, 93% for fulguration, and 89% for laser ablation. The 12-month PFS was 94% for the laser group and 97% for the fulguration group.
The authors conclude that office-based TULA under local anesthesia using PDD-assisted flexible cystoscopy is associated with low perioperative pain and does not compromise short- or long-term RFS or PFS. Therefore, it is a feasible option regarding perioperative pain and oncological safety.
Read the abstract: View Source
"These new study data presented at EAU continue to emphasize the importance of using Blue Light Cystoscopy in the diagnostic pathway for bladder cancer. Minimally invasive procedures are on the rise and these abstracts also address data gaps in the long-term use of BLC in high-risk patients, where accurate staging determines all further treatment decisions", said Anders Neijber, Chief Medical Officer of Photocure. "BLC has been shown to clinically increase TURBT quality, more accurately stage disease, and enable better recurrence monitoring to help improve the lives of patients with bladder cancer."
During the EAU Congress, on March 21, Photocure, in collaboration with Olympus, also hosted a well-attended scientific event on ‘Precision Imaging in Bladder Cancer: Focus on Blue Light Cystoscopy’. The event, chaired by Ms. Bernadett Szabados (UCLH, London, UK) and Professor Christian Beisland (Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway), brought together leading experts who exchanged insights on the importance of advanced imaging technologies in urology. This collaboration between Photocure and Olympus underscores a shared commitment to innovation in cancer imaging and improving patient outcomes.