Photocure is a Norwegian pharmaceutical company focusing on the use of photodynamic technology to detect and cure diseases. Photocure was founded in 1993 by the Norwegian Radium Hospital with the first employee being hired in 1997. Today, the company has 38 highly competent employees, including seven employees holding Ph.D.s, and operates in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.
Photocure’s strategy is to develop new and innovative products to fulfill unmet medical needs based on its patented photodynamic technology.
Photocure’s marketing strategy is to market and sell in the Nordic region and to sign licensing agreements for marketing and distribution outside this region. Galderma, a leading dermatology company, licensed Metvix and Aktilite from Photocure in December 2001. In January 2006, Photocure licensed Hexvix to GE Healthcare, a global leader in imaging.
Photocure has three products with sales and marketing approvals:
- Metvix, for the treatment of skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma) and pre-cancerous skin lesions
(actinic keratosis)
- Aktilite CL 16 and CL 128, lamps that are intended for use in PDT (Photodynamic therapy) in
combination with Metvix
- Hexvix, for the detection of bladder cancer.
Photocure is also developing photochemical internalisation (PCI), a technology for light-directed drug delivery. The PCI technology was developed to introduce therapeutic molecules in a biologically active form specifically into diseased cells. PCI Biotech ASA, a subsidiary of Photocure, was established in 2000 to ensure an optimal development of the PCI technology.
Photocure relies on outsourcing when it comes to production and R&D, but it is tightly controlled by internal project management.
Photocure is currently evaluating its patented photodynamic technology for several diseases such as acne, pre-malignant cervix lesions/HPV-infections and colon cancer. In addition, Photocure’s subsidiary, PCI Biotech, develops its photochemical internalisation technology for combination therapies and drug delivery, primarily in the oncology field.