Laser Treatment Approved by FDA for
Late-Stage Lung Cancer

SANTA CLARA, CA -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved the use of the drug Photofrin® (porfimer sodium) for the palliative treatment of non-small cell late-stage lung cancer. Coherent, Inc. of Santa Clara, CA, has developed the Lambda Plus® dye laser that activates Photofrin® in what is termed Photodynamic Therapy (PDT).  PDT combines a light-activated drug with a specific wavelength of laser light; the ensuing reaction kills the host tumor cells.

"Photodynamic therapy presents us with an opportunity to treat large numbers of people with cancer and in the future with potential treatments in ophthalmology and autoimmune disease,"  said Bernard Couillaud, president and CEO of Coherent.

The therapy was first approved for treatment of late-stage esophageal cancer in 1995.

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