IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,708,791
Granted Patent B2
US 12,708,791 · App. 17/913,741 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Management of dermal neurofibromatosis lesions

Inventors: Harry Thomas Whelan (Whitefish Bay, WI); Brendan John Quirk (Mayville, WI); Edit Olasz Harken (Pewaukee, WI)
Assignee: Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc.
A61N5/062A61N5/0616A61P35/00A61N2005/0651A61N2005/0663
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,708,791
App. No.
17/913,741
Filed
Sep 22, 2022
Granted
Aug 18, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3792
USPC
606/9
Abstract

Dermal neurofibroma, in particular Neurofibromatosis Type I (NF1) leads to progressive tumor proliferation with no known mechanism to inhibit growth. The present invention relates to the use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for attenuating tumor growth in NF1 patients. More particularly the invention provides a method of treating dermal neurofibroma comprising topically applying a pharmaceutical composition comprising a photosensitizer to the affected area of a patient, incubating the affected area, and irradiating the affected area with a light of suitable wavelength as per the photosensitizer used, wherein the treatment is characterized by inhibiting the progression of tumor growth and/or reduction in tumor size and/or increased mortality rate of the neurofibroma cell.

Claims (15)

1 . A method of treating dermal neurofibroma in a patient comprising:

a. topically applying a pharmaceutical composition comprising a photosensitizer to an affected area of the patient,

b. microneedling the affected area before and/or after topical application of the photosensitizer,

c. incubating the affected area, and

d. irradiating the affected area with blue light;

wherein the treatment is effective to inhibit progression of neurofibroma tumor growth and/or achieve a reduction in neurofibroma tumor size and/or achieve an increased mortality rate of neurofibroma cells.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises 5-aminolevulinic acid as the photosensitizer.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises about 10% w/v to about 20% w/v of 5-aminolevulinic acid as the photosensitizer.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the wavelength of the blue light is in the range 410 nm to 485 nm.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the wavelength of the blue light is 417 nm±5 nm.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the blue light is applied at an intensity of 10 mW/cm 2 for 1000 seconds to provide a total applied dose of 10 J/cm 2 .

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the blue light is applied at an intensity of greater than 10 mW/cm 2 for less than 1000 seconds at a total applied dose of 10 J/cm 2 .

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the increased mortality rate of neurofibroma cells is determined by appearance or detection of increased DNA fragmentation.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the treatment further comprises a step of degreasing of the affected area before topical application of the photosensitizer.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the blue light is applied at a dose of 20 J/cm 2 .

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded May 30, 2024
From: DUSA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
To: SUN PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 067565/0986 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 23, 2022
From: WHELAN, HARRY THOMAS; QUIRK, BRENDAN JOHN; HARKEN, EDIT OLASZ
To: DUSA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Reel/Frame 061190/0126 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63000317 · Mar 26, 2020
Related Publication 20230035733A1 · Feb 2, 2023
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