Melbourne biotech Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals has identified a new oncology application for its lead compound, CUV1647, which stimulates an increase in the production of the body's natural photoprotective pigment, melanin.

A company statement says it anticipates that CUV1647 will be shown to prevent the phototoxicity associated with photodynamic therapy (PDT) in cancer therapy.

PDT was first used as a cancer therapy over 100 years ago. PDT uses laser, or other light sources, combined with a light sensitive drug or photosensitising agent to destroy cancer cells.

This treatment is used in many cases where surgery is neither possible nor preferred. PDT is most frequently used in gastro-intestinal, esophageal, bladder, neurosurgical, prostate cancers/disorders and in wet age-related macular degeneration of the eyes.

One of the limiting factors and key side effects of PDT therapy is debilitating photosensitivity of skin and eyes to light (sunlight as well as artificial light). Patients suffer intense pain associated with this photosensitivity and are forced to avoid sunlight/artificial light for up to 90 days following treatment.

Clinuvel has filed patent applications for the use of CUV1647 and any related compounds that serve as photoprotective agents for patients who have undergone PDT treatment.

"This adjunct treatment to PDT in oncology represents the fifth indication that Clinuvel is pursuing to gain market approval of CUV1647," Clinuvel's CEO, Dr Philippe Wolgen, said.

"We now have a comprehensive program of two clinical applications in cancer therapies and three in UV-related skin disorders. During the past year we have clinically validated CUV1647 for the use in polymorphous light eruption (PLE/PMLE) and erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP); the other indications are squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)/actinic keratosis (AK) in organ transplant patients, and solar urticaria (SU)."

For a full profile of Clinuvel, see the March/April issue of Australian Life Scientist.