초록 ▼

The invention provides the use of a photosensitizer which is 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) or a derivative (e.g. an ester) of 5-ALA, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in the manufacture of a composition for use in methods of photodynamic therapy (PDT) on an animal, wherein said PDT comp

The invention provides the use of a photosensitizer which is 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) or a derivative (e.g. an ester) of 5-ALA, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in the manufacture of a composition for use in methods of photodynamic therapy (PDT) on an animal, wherein said PDT comprises: (a) administering to said animal a composition comprising said photosensitizer; and (b) photoactivating said photosensitizer, and wherein side-effects (e.g. pain and/or erythema) of said PDT are prevented or reduced by use of one or more of (i)-(iv): (i) said composition comprises said photosensitizer in a concentration of less than 10% wt (e.g. 0.5 to 8% wt), (ii) said composition is administered for less than 2 hours (e.g. 30 minutes to 90 minutes) prior to said photoactivation, (iii) said photoactivation is carried out with a light source having a fluence rate of less than 50 mW/cm2 (e.g. 5 to 40 mW/cm2), (iv) said photoactivation is carried out with sunlight. Preferably, side-effects of PDT are prevented or reduced by using (iii) or (iv) in combination with (i) and/or (ii).

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of treating pre-malignant and malignant abnormalities and disorders of at least one of a lining of the vagina, cervix or uterus in an animal by photodynamic therapy (PDT), wherein said PDT comprises: (a) administering to said animal a composition comprising an ester of 5-aminolevulinic a

1. A method of treating pre-malignant and malignant abnormalities and disorders of at least one of a lining of the vagina, cervix or uterus in an animal by photodynamic therapy (PDT), wherein said PDT comprises: (a) administering to said animal a composition comprising an ester of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, as a photosensitiser; and(b) photoactivating said photosensitiser, and wherein side-effects of said PDT are prevented or reduced by use of (i) in combination with (ii): (i) said composition comprises said photosensitiser in a concentration of less than 10% wt,(ii) said photoactivation is carried out with a light source comprising a light emitting diode and having a fluence rate of less than 50 mW/cm2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said PDT has substantially the same therapeutic effect as the corresponding standard PDT treatment. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said photosensitiser is a compound of general formula I: R22N—CH2COCH2—CH2CO—OR1  (I) (wherein R1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted, straight-chained, branched or cyclic alkyl group; and each R2 independently represents a hydrogen atom) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein in formula I, R1 represents an unsubstituted alkyl group or an alkyl group substituted by an aryl group. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said composition further comprises a second photosensitiser. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the photosensitizer is hexyl ALA ester (HAL) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the photosensitizer is the hydrochloric acid salt of hexyl ALA ester (HAL). 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the abnormality or disorder is pre-malignant. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the abnormality or disorder is a pre-malignant lesion of the cervix. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the abnormality or disorder is a viral infection. 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the photosensitizer is hexyl ALA ester (HAL) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the photosensitizer is the hydrochloric acid salt of hexyl ALA ester (HAL). 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the photosensitizer is present in the composition at a concentration of 0.05 percent to 8 percent by weight. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the photosensitizer is present in the composition at a concentration of 2 percent to 8 percent by weight. 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluence rate is 5 to 40 mW/cm2. 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the animal is a human and the lining is the lining of the cervix.