PHN is the licensor of Gleolan (aminolevulinic acid HCl (ALA)) to NXDC. The companies share an eight-year working relationship.
PHN is engaged in the development of drugs that use 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) in Europe, Japan, Korea, Australia, and the United States of America.
In 2016, SBI Holdings (SBIH) acquired 100% equity interest in PHN as part of its world-wide development strategy for 5-ALA through SBIH's subsidiary, SBI ALApharma Co. Ltd., a Hong Kong company (SBI ALA).
NXDC will operate as a subsidiary of PHN within SBI ALA ALApharma group of life sciences companies focused upon commercialization of 5-ALA for healthcare.
NXDC obtained U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for the use of GleolanTM as an intraoperative imaging agent. GleolanTM is indicated in patients with glioma [suspected World Health Organization (WHO) Grades III or IV on preoperative imaging] as an adjunct for the visualization of malignant tissue during surgery.
NXDC co-founder, chairman and CEO Dr Alan Ezrin said: "We were pleased to complete this strategic transaction with PHN, enabling our vision to bring this real–time imaging agent to the neurosurgical community.
“SBI ALApharma, PHN and the neurosurgical community have been critical partners throughout this journey. That NXDC is now a member of the SBI life sciences group is a vote of confidence in our achievements.”
"The U.S. approval has made 5-ALA a global product in neurosurgery for PHN as well as SBI ALApharma. We are pleased to further expand our international network to also include the U.S. through this merger with NXDC.
“We intend to invest in additional research and development projects for 5-ALA for potential use in many other new oncology indications," said Ulrich Kosciessa, Ph.D., CEO of PHN and COO of SBI ALApharma.
GleolanTM is an FDA-approved optical imaging agent indicated in patients with glioma [suspected World Health Organization (WHO) Grades III or IV on preoperative imaging] as an adjunct for the visualization of malignant tissue during surgery.
GleolanTM helps neurosurgeons see malignant tissue in real time during surgery and is provided orally prior to glioma surgery. During operation, the surgeon utilizes a modified surgical microscope with a specific blue light filter for the visualization of red-violet fluorescence.
Source: Company Press Release