On October 16, 2020 Photocure ASA (OSE:PHO) reported a highlight from the BLADDR 2020 congress, a poster presentation on new findings from the Nordic Flexible BLC registry, an ongoing prospective multicenter study (Press release, PhotoCure, OCT 16, 2020, View Source [SID1234568591]). It demonstrates that flexible Blue Light Cystoscopy helped resolve a substantial amount of cases by complete removal on-site or direct referral to intravesical treatment, providing increased efficacy to manage non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) in the office setting.
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The BLADDR congress, held virtually this year, is solely focused on bladder cancer and attracts the interest of experts from all over the world.
"It is encouraging to see how data on the blue light cystoscopy procedure continues to provide new insight into the efficiency of how to manage NMIBC in the office setting. The BLC procedure is a tool that helps physicians solve such cases outside of the OR. Using blue light cystoscopy with Hexvix, they trust their detection capabilities in the office and can treat the lesions immediately, perform confirmatory biopsies or initiate intravesical therapy. Such options are less costly than OR procedures, thus helping to keep costs down for the healthcare system and sparing the patient additional surgical procedures in the OR. This is a clear win-win situation for both patient and healthcare system", says Dan Schneider, President and CEO of Photocure.
Methodology and data from the study:
The Nordic Flexible BLC registry is an ongoing prospective multicenter study initiated to observe the clinical use and explore possible benefits of blue light cystoscopy in the surveillance setting. From five participating sites, 354 patients in follow-up of NMIBC have been included in the study. Data from 462 blue light procedures were included.
In follow-up of NMIBC, in a predominant intermediate and high-risk patient population, this analysis shows how blue light cystoscopy in a surveillance setting helped resolve a substantial amount of cases by complete removal of lesions on-site, or direct referral to intravesical instillation. In 88% of cases where suspicious lesions were seen, no further diagnostic or surgical treatment procedures (TURBT) were needed.
The authors conclude that blue light cystoscopy in the surveillance setting provides increased efficiency to manage NMIBC.
Here is a link to the poster.
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About Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer ranks as the sixth most common cancer worldwide with 1 650 000 prevalent cases (5-year prevalence rate), 550 000 new cases and almost 200 000 deaths annually in 2018.1
Approx. 75% of all bladder cancer cases occur in men.1 It has a high recurrence rate with an average of 61% in year one and 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. Incidence/mortality by population. Available at: View Source
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. View Source
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 (BLCTM). BLC with Hexvix /Cysview 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 the Nordic region and has strategic partnerships for the commercialization of Hexvix/Cysview in Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Please refer to https://bit.ly/2wzqSQQ for further information on our commercial partners.