First patient tested with light-activated drug

Seattle, WA-Visient Therapeutics Inc. has enrolled its first patient in a new phase I clinical trial to evaluate Light Infusion Technology (Litx) in patients with advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The patient was treated by Gary Edd Fish, MD, at Texas Retina Associates in Dallas.

The open-label, dose escalation safety trial treats patients with the light-activated drug LS11 (talaporfin sodium). The drug is administered intravenously, then light is used to activate it selectively in diseased portions of the eye.

"We believe that our unique approach may solve many of the major problems associated with currently available therapies, such as poor response rates, inadequate durability of visual stabilization, and uncomfortable drug-delivery mechanisms," said Albert Luderer, PhD, president of Visient Therapeutics and president and chief executive officer of its parent company, Light Sciences.