DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a dermatology company that is developing and marketing Levulan Photodynamic Therapy (PDT), conveyed that United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a notice of allowance for a key patent related to its proprietary PDT light source, the BLU U, Blue Light Photodynamic Therapy Illuminator. The new patent will have method of treatment claims which cover the use of DUSA’s blue light technology and aminolevulinic acid HCL (Levulan) for the treatment of actinic keratosis as well as the diagnosis and treatment of other disease states such as acne, cancer, psoriasis and photodamaged skin.
The patent also has claims that will cover DUSA’s blue light technology in conjunction with its proprietary Levulan Kerastick formulation of aminolevulinic acid HCL. The patent, once issued, which is scheduled to occur on May 25, 2010, will cover the company's approved Levulan PDT therapy until June, 2019.
Robert Doman, DUSA’s president and CEO, said, “This patent further strengthens the protection of our Levulan PDT therapy because the claims cover the use of the BLU-U, aminolevulinic acid, and our proprietary Levulan Kerastick formulation together to treat actinic keratoses.” Doman continued, “The successful execution of this intellectual property protection strategy significantly enhances DUSA’s patent portfolio for our Levulan PDT technology. This provides DUSA with the opportunity to continue on its path of revenue growth and additional time to explore new indications and life cycle management strategies.”
Levulan Kerastick for Topical Solution plus blue light illumination using the BLU-U blue light photodynamic therapy illuminator is indicated for the treatment of minimally to moderately thick actinic keratoses (AKs) of the face or scalp.