Pharmaceutical Business review

Light Sciences initiates phase II glioma trial

Its primary objective is to demonstrate the safety of Light Infusion Therapy (Litx) with increasing light doses in the treatment of primary or recurrent glioma, including glioblastoma and astrocytoma.

Glioma is a common and aggressive as well as deadly brain cancer. Internationally, Datamonitor estimates that there were approximately 34,000 new cases of glioma in the US, Japan and Western Europe in 2005.

Litx uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to activate LS11. An activated LS11 molecule results in the production of singlet oxygen molecules, which can kill target tissues with minimal side effects through vascular closure and apoptosis, or “programmed cell death.” Constant illumination can activate each molecule of LS11 many times, resulting in a continuous supply of singlet oxygen molecules.

According to Light Sciences Oncology, Litx may avoid the serious toxicities associated with traditional treatments. It attacks tumors from the inside-out, rather than outside-in, the method used in many standard treatments. Litx kills all tumor cells in the kill zone, rather than only the minority of cells undergoing rapid division.