The Bangalore-based Advanced clinical research, the sister concern of German company Biolitec AG, is all set to market Biolitec’s second generation photo sensitizer temoporfin in India, under the brand name 'Foscan’ in India. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) recently had cleared the company to allow import of temoporfin.

Foscan, the first product in its class to get such permission for import into India, is approved for the palliative treatment of patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma failing prior therapies and unsuitable for radiotherapy, surgery or systemic chemotherapy.

The concept of using photo sensitizer as a whole is called as photodynamic therapy (PDT) and it is well practiced in western countries. Photodynamic therapy uses a combination of laser light of a specific wavelength, oxygen and a light-sensitive drug to destroy cancer cells.

“We are planning to market the products like Gel for Cervical Dysplacia, and for Psoriasis once we get the approval. These are under clinical trials in US and Europe,” Maheep Saran, Director, Advanced clinical research said.

In India, around 800,000 people are diagnosed with head and neck cancer every year. At any given time there are 2.5 million Indian patients who suffer from cancer.

Advanced Clinical Research specialises in conducting clinical trials. They are involved in the co-ordination, planning, processing, evaluation and monitoring of clinical trials as per GCP/ICH guidelines.

Edinburgh-based Biolitec Pharma Ltd, responsible for the production & marketing of Foscan, is a company within the Biolitec group, with headquarters in Jena, Germany.