Here's another article from the Seatle Times:
By Paul J. Lim, The Seattle Times Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News
Dec. 28--There may be a new weapon in the war against cancer, cardiovascular disease and other disorders. For the first time, the Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug that can pinpoint its target, such as a tumor, through light activation.
The FDA gave QLT PhotoTherapeutics, a Vancouver, B.C.-based biotech company, the go-ahead yesterday to market a drug called Photofrin for use in treating advanced esophageal cancer.
While the disease may be limited, the technology -- known as photodynamic therapy -- isn't.
For years, researchers have been searching for ways to deal with diseased cells while leaving neighboring cells intact.
Photodynamic drugs such as Photofrin are believed to be one method. "This is a significant advance," said Jim McCamant, editor of the Medical Technology Stock Letter.
But, he cautioned, "it's too early to tell how big the market for this could be."
Photofrin is injected into a patient and is allowed to circulate and attach itself to tumors. But it has no effect until it's activated by a light source such as a laser, at which point a chemical reaction destroys the cancer.
"This is tremendous," said Jan Wiegand, senior manager of business development at PDT Inc., a Santa Barbara biotech company that's working on similar technology for a variety of other diseases.
While PDT doesn't have a drug approved, it is working on treatments for skin and prostate cancer along with restenosis, a process in which cleared arteries reconstrict following surgery. Other companies are also researching how photodynamic therapy could affect rheumatoid arthritis.
Wiegand said photodynamic therapy could be applicable for all diseases caused by a hyperproliferation of cells.
"From an investment standpoint, the big question is, what else is this useful for and how fast can companies get FDA approval?" McCamant said.
He added that despite the allure of the technology, doctors may be wary of using it simply because of its newness.
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