Photocure ASA

Earnings Release • Feb 8, 2017

A better future for patients with bladder cancer using advanced technologies includes a vital role for Blue Light Cystoscopy with Hexvix®/Cysview®

A better future for patients with bladder cancer using advanced technologies includes a vital role for Blue Light Cystoscopy with Hexvix®/Cysview®

Oslo, Norway, February 8th 2017, Photocure ASA

announced today a publication in the Scandinavian

Journal of Urology, describing a vision for improving

outcomes for patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder

cancer (NMIBC), and the significant role that blue

light cystoscopy (BLC) with Hexvix® plays in achieving

it. Read the full abstract by clicking here

(http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21681805.2

017.1283359).

"We are pleased that such a renowned group of

urologists can see a brighter future for patients

suffering from NMIBC, a disease with high recurrence

rates, and many costly and invasive follow up

procedures and treatments. BLC with Hexvix® clearly

has a leading role in this future, especially as its

application is expanding beyond the operating room to

the outpatient clinic using flexible cystoscopes" says

Kjetil Hestdal, MD, PhD, President and CEO, Photocure

ASA.

In the article the authors advocate a future where

advances in molecular diagnostics, imaging and

resection techniques will drive a paradigm shift to

personalized care, thereby reducing the burden of

disease. This would mean that patients with the

poorest prognosis will receive the most aggressive

treatment, while low-risk patients are not subjected

to unnecessary procedures. Such a holistic and dynamic

approach is crucial to curb healthcare expenditure,

facilitate adherence to follow-up schedules and

improve outcomes in bladder cancer, one of the most

frequent and costly cancers.

The authors conclude that their vision is achievable

and the role of improved technologies such as BLC with

Hexvix® is vital in achieving that goal.

About Hexvix®/Cysview®

Hexvix® is a drug that is taken up selectively by

cancer cells in the bladder making them glow bright

pink during Blue Light Cystoscopy (BLC). BLC with

Hexvix® improves the detection of tumors and leads to

more complete resection, less residual tumors and

better management decisions.

Hexvix® is the tradename in Europe, Cysview® in the US

and Canada. Hexvix® is marketed and sold by Photocure

in the Nordic countries and in the US with the trade

name Cysview®. Photocure has a strategic partnership

with Ipsen for the commercialization of Hexvix® in

Europe, excluding the Nordic region. Please refer to

https://www.photocure.com/Partnering- with-

Photocure/Our-partners for further information on our

commercial partners.

About Bladder Cancer

There are 167 000 new cases of bladder cancer in

Europe and more than 59 000 deaths from the disease

annually. 79% of all bladder cancer cases occur in

men1. It has a high recurrence rate with an average of

61% in year one and 78% over five years, making the

lifetime costs of managing bladder cancer one of the

highest amongst all. Bladder cancer is a costly,

potentially progressive disease for which patients

have to undergo multiple cystoscopies due to the high

risk of recurrence2. A paper on the economic burden of

bladder cancer across the European Union estimates

that bladder cancer cost the EU 4.9 Billion Euro in

2012.3

Bladder cancer is a costly, potentially progressive

disease for which patients have to undergo multiple

cystoscopies due to the high risk of recurrence. There

is an urgent need to improve both the diagnosis and

the management of bladder cancer for the benefit of

patients and healthcare systems alike.

Bladder cancer is classified into two types, non-

muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and muscle-

invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), depending on the depth

of invasion in the bladder wall.4 NMIBC is still in

the inner layer of cells. These cancers are the most

common (75%) of all BC cases and include the subtypes

Ta, carcinoma in situ (CIS) and T1 lesions. MIBC is

when the cancer has grown into deeper layers of the

bladder wall. These cancers, including subtypes T2, T3

and T4, are more likely to spread and are harder to

treat.5

Disclaimer

All trademarks mentioned in this release are protected

by law and are registered trademarks of Photocure ASA

This press release may contain product details and

information which are not valid, or a product is not

accessible, in your country. Please be aware that

Photocure does not take any responsibility for

accessing such information which may not comply with

any legal process, regulation, registration or usage

in the country of your origin.

References

1. Globocan. Incidence/mortality by population.

Available at:

http://globocan.iarc.fr/Pages/bar_pop_sel.aspx

2. Leal et al, Eur Urol 2016; 69: 438-447

3. Babjuk M, Burger M, Zigeuner R, Shariat SF, van

Rhijn BW, Compérat E, et al. EAU Guidelines on

non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (Ta, T1 and CIS).

Eur Urol. 2016 Guidelines Edition:1-40.

3. Sievert KD et al. World J Urol

2009;27:295-300

4. Bladder Cancer. American Cancer Society.

http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webconte

nt/003085-pdf.pdf. Accessed April 2016.

5. Bladder Cancer. American Cancer Society.

http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webconte

nt/003085-pdf.pdf. Accessed April 2016.