DUSA Pharmaceuticals' Levulan study shows improvement in photodamaged skin

By Jennifer Chiou

New York, Oct. 20 - DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced positive final results of its clinical study using Levulan photodynamic therapy (ALA) with intense pulsed light (IPL) for the treatment of photodamaged skin.

"To our surprise, adverse effects and tolerability did not differ significantly between the IPL-only treated areas and the areas treated with ALA plus IPL," lead investigator and laser expert Jeffery S. Dover said in a news release.

"The results on the ALA plus IPL side of the face were most impressive for global scores for photoaging, mottled pigmentation and fine lines and only the ALA plus IPL treated side of the face received excellent cosmetic evaluation scores by the blinded investigators."

In the 20-patient study, patients received a series of three treatments three weeks apart, in which half of the patient's face was pretreated with Levulan for 45 minutes before IPL treatment, while the other half of the face was treated with the same doses of IPL alone.

After the initial three week period, patients received two additional full face IPL-alone treatments. Prior to each of these IPL-alone treatments, patients were assessed for signs of photodamage, which include global photodamage, fine lines, mottled pigmentation, tactile roughness and sallowness. After four more weeks, patients were again assessed for signs of photodamage.

Facial photoaging or photodamage is a common cosmetic problem seen in light-skinned individuals with years of significant exposure to the sun.

The investigators report that pre-treatment with Levulan during the first three treatments resulted in statistically significant improvement in global scores for photoaging, mottled pigmentation and fine lines.

The report, "Topical 5-Aminolevulinic Acid Combined With Intense Pulsed Light in the Treatment of Photoaging," was published in the October issue of the American Medical Association journal Archives of Dermatology.

Based in Wilmington, Mass., DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on dermatology.

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