Successful Phase III trial ofTookad Soluble (padeliporfin di-potassium) to treat early localized prostate cancer.- Steba Biotech

In a Phase III trial consisting of 413 men with early localized prostate cancer, participants were were randomly assigned either to vascular targeted photodynamic therapy (VTP) in the form of Tookad Soluble (padeliporfin di-potassium) from Steba Biotech, or active surveillance. Only 6% of the VTP group later needed radical treatment, compared with 30% of active surveillance patients. VTP treatment also doubled the average time of cancer progression from 14 months to 28 months.

The trial, reported in the Lancet Oncology journal, was conducted across 47 treatment sites in 10 European countries, most of which were performing VTP for the first time.

This is one of a series of trials held in Europe and Latin America. Tookad Soluble is approved in Mexico and Steba Biotech has filed the therapy in the EU.