Intendis GmbH and Photonamic GmbH and Co KG have signed a license and development agreement that grants Intendis exclusive access outside of the US to their 5-aminolevulinic acid patch technology (5-ALA Patch) for the Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) of skin diseases. Intendis is part of Bayer HealthCare. Under the agreement Intendis has obtained the right to develop, register and commercialize products based on this technology among others for the indication actinic keratosis under the brand names Alacare and Effala (PD P 506 A). Actinic keratosis is a UVB-induced carcinoma in situ.

PD P 506 A is a novel approach to treat actinic keratosis by using the effective 5-ALA-based PDT in an innovative patch system, which allows for optimum targeting and exposure of the compound to the affected area. Marc Lafeuille, president and CEO of Intendis emphasized that, "PD P 506 A is a valuable addition to our portfolio of prescription dermatological drugs. I am convinced that it will provide significant value to doctors and patients alike, as the 5-ALA patch represents a novel, effective and convenient treatment of actinic keratoses. The partnership with Photonamic also provides us the opportunity to exploit further the potential of the patch technology in other indications."

"We are very much looking forward to working together with Intendis," said Dr Ulrich Kosciessa, managing director, Photonamic. "With Intendis' experience as a globally operating dermatological company, we are convinced that this partnership offers a very high level of success for the further development and marketing of PD P 506 A and the 5-ALA patch technology."

Photonamic, a subsidiary of German-based Medac Gesellschaft für klininische Spezialpräparate GmbH, initiated a decentralized European registration procedure to obtain marketing authorization for the treatment of actinic keratoses. The product is expected to be launched in the European market by the end of 2009. Intendis has committed to milestone payments and will pay royalties to Photonamic on sales of any product based on the 5-ALA patch technology under license.

Actinic keratosis forms dry, scaly, rough-textured patches or papules in sun-exposed areas of the skin which range in colour from skin-toned to reddish brown. If left untreated, progression to the invasive skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, may occur in rare cases.

Intendis is an integrated pharmaceutical company based in Berlin, Germany.