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Photofrin

(porfimer sodium)

ApprovedSmall molecule

PPinnacle Biologics Inc.

Porfimer sodium is used in photodynamic therapy to treat certain types of cancer, particularly esophageal cancer and lung cancer. When activated by laser light, it helps destroy cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue.[2] Photofrin is currently approved and in use across 15 indications[4].[1]

Photofrin is one of 208 small molecule programs targeting Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma. It is currently in Approved.

15

Indications

22

Total Trials

1

Active Trials

207

Competitors

1

FDA Application

NDA/BLA/ANDA regulatory filings

Pipeline

Status by Indication[4][1]

Indication

Hilar CholangiocarcinomaApproved

Gallbladder NeoplasmApproved

Urinary Bladder CancerApproved

Head and Neck Malignant NeoplasiaApproved

Brain CancerApproved

Gallbladder CancerApproved

Brain NeoplasmApproved

Central Nervous System NeoplasmApproved

Malignant Pleural MesotheliomaApproved

Barrett's EsophagusActive, not recruiting

Hilar CholangiocarcinomaApproved

Approved

Gallbladder NeoplasmApproved

Approved

Urinary Bladder CancerApproved

Approved

Head and Neck Malignant NeoplasiaApproved

Approved

Brain CancerApproved

Approved

Gallbladder CancerApproved

Approved

Brain NeoplasmApproved

Approved

Central Nervous System NeoplasmApproved

Approved

Malignant Pleural MesotheliomaApproved

Approved

Barrett's EsophagusApproved

Active, not recruiting

Showing 10 of 15 indications

Competition

Competitive Landscape

449 competitors in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

#DrugCompanyPhaseTrials

Photofrin

PPinnacle Biologics Inc.

Navelbine

PPierre Fabre Medicament

Pyrotinib

HHengrui Therapeutics, Inc.

Ds-1062a

Remeron

OOrganon and Co

Ftorafur

TThe First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University

Aqupla

Jiangsu Simcere Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Valemetostat Tosylate

Treatment

Vibramycin

PPfizer's Upjohn has merged with Mylan to form Viatris Inc.

Ranked by pipeline maturity and clinical activity. Current drug highlighted in teal.

Timeline

Expected Milestones

Q4 2026

Phase 1Active, not recruiting

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

NCT03678350

Clinical

Trials by Indication[1]

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer4 trials

Photodynamic Therapy to Amplify the Response to Immunotherapy in Patients With Non-small Cell Lung Cancer With Pleural Disease

Terminated·RRoswell Park Cancer Institute·Phase 1·NCT04836429·5 enrolled

Photodynamic Therapy Using Porfimer Sodium in Treating Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer And Bronchial Disease

Completed·OOhio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center··NCT00754910·35 enrolled

Photodynamic Therapy in Treating Patients With Resectable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer That Has Spread to the Pleura

Terminated·—·Phase 2·NCT00601848·9 enrolled

Show 1 more trial

Light Dosimetry for Photodynamic Therapy With Porfimer Sodium in Treating Participants With Malignant Mesothelioma or Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer With Pleural Disease Undergoing Surgery

Active, not recruiting·RRoswell Park Cancer Institute·Phase 1·NCT03678350·9 enrolled

Lung Cancer3 trials

Novel Light Delivery Methods for Lung Cancer Photodynamic Therapy - A Pilot Study

Unknown status·TTaoyuan General Hospital·Phase 1·NCT04753918·3 enrolled

Feasibility Study of Using Navigational Bronchoscopy to Perform PDT-Photofrin® in Unresectable Peripheral Lung Cancer

Completed·CConcordia Laboratories Inc.·Phase 1·NCT02916745·5 enrolled

Endobronchial Ultrasound Guided Interstitial Photodynamic Therapy in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced Lung Cancer

Terminated·RRoswell Park Cancer Institute·Phase 1/2·NCT03735095·19 enrolled

Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer2 trials

Interstitial Photodynamic Therapy in Treating Patients With Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer

Terminated·RRoswell Park Cancer Institute·Phase 2·NCT02068157·3 enrolled

Porfimer Sodium Interstitial Photodynamic Therapy With or Without Standard of Care Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced or Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer

Terminated·RRoswell Park Cancer Institute·Phase 1·NCT03727061·5 enrolled

Glioma2 trials

High Light and Low Light Dose PDT in Glioma

Completed·—·Phase 3·NCT00118222·1 enrolled

Surgery, Radiation Therapy, and Chemotherapy With or Without Photodynamic Therapy in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed or Recurrent Malignant Supratentorial Gliomas

Unknown status·CColorado Health Foundation·Phase 3·NCT00003788·270 enrolled

Cholangiocarcinoma2 trials

Biliary Stenting With or Without Photodynamic Therapy in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced, Recurrent, or Metastatic Cholangiocarcinoma or Other Biliary Tract Tumors That Cannot Be Removed by Surgery

Completed·UUniversity College, London·Phase 3·NCT00513539·92 enrolled

Stent Placement With or Without Photodynamic Therapy Using Porfimer Sodium as Palliative Treatment in Treating Patients With Stage III or Stage IV Cholangiocarcinoma That Cannot Be Removed By Surgery

Withdrawn·JJonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center·Phase 3·NCT00253617

9 more indications

Malignant Mesothelioma1 trial

Surgery and Photodynamic Therapy in Treating Patients With Malignant Mesothelioma

Completed·RRoswell Park Cancer Institute·Phase 2·NCT00054002·12 enrolled

Recurrent1 trial

Photodynamic Therapy Using Porfimer Sodium in Treating Patients With Recurrent Mouth or Throat Dysplasia or Recurrent In Situ Cancer or Stage I Cancer of the Mouth or Throat

Terminated·RRoswell Park Cancer Institute·N/A·NCT00530088·30 enrolled

Esophageal Cancer1 trial

Photodynamic Therapy in Treating Patients With Early Esophageal Cancer

Completed·RRoswell Park Cancer Institute·Phase 2·NCT00002935·30 enrolled

Pancreatic Cancer1 trial

Ultrasound-Guided Photodynamic Therapy With Photofrin & Gemcitabine for Patients With Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

Completed·JJohn DeWitt·Phase 1·NCT01770132·12 enrolled

Cancer of the Bile Duct1 trial

Photodynamic Therapy in Treating Patients With Cancer of the Bile Duct, Gallbladder, or Pancreas

Completed·MMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center·Phase 2·NCT00003923·4 enrolled

Cancer1 trial

Photodynamic Therapy With Porfimer Sodium in Treating Patients With Precancerous Lesions, Cancer, or Other Disease of the Aerodigestive Tract

Completed·UUniversity of Miami·Phase 2·NCT00453336·45 enrolled

Surgery1 trial

Safety of PDT-Photofrin® Prior to Lung Surgery

Completed·CConcordia Laboratories Inc.·Phase 1·NCT03344861·10 enrolled

Malignancy1 trial

Photodynamic Therapy During Surgery in Treating Patients With Pleural Malignancy

Withdrawn·OOhio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center·N/A·NCT02106559

Head and Neck Cancer1 trial

Porfimer Sodium in Diagnosing Patients With Head and Neck Cancer

Completed·RRoswell Park Cancer Institute·Phase 2·NCT00002964

Regulatory

FDA Approval Timeline[5]

Dec 27, 1995

PHOTOFRIN

NDA NDA020451

Sources

References

[1]
ClinicalTrials.gov — 22 trial records for porfimer sodium. U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
[2]
MedlinePlus Drug Information — Photofrin drug information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
[3]
ChEMBL — porfimer sodium compound record. European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI).
[4]
Open Targets Platform — Drug–disease associations for porfimer sodium. EMBL-EBI & Wellcome Sanger Institute.
[5]
OpenFDA — FDA approval records (NDA NDA020451). U.S. Food & Drug Administration.
[6]
SEC EDGAR — Pinnacle Biologics Inc. company filings. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Details

Drug Info

Quick Facts

Modality: Small molecule[3]
Highest Phase: Approved[1]
Company: PPinnacle Biologics Inc.

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