Use of aminolevulinic acid and derivatives thereof

• Main Authors: WULF HANS CHRISTIAN, GODAL ASLAK, KLAVENESS JO
• Format: Patent
• Language: Chinese; English
• Published: 20.01.2010
• Subjects: HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL, OR TOILET PURPOSES

The invention provides the use of a photosensitiser 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 photosensitiser; and (b) photoactivating said photosensitiser, 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 photosensitiser 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/cm (e.g. 5 to 40 mW/cm ), (iv) said photoactivation is carried out with sunlight. Preferably, side-effects of PDT are prevente