Visudyne was approved in May 2000 in Canada for the treatment of CNV due to age related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 50.

"This approval will make a significant difference in the lives affected by this condition," said Dr. Pat Harvey, Retina Unit, Vision Science Program, Toronto Western Division, University Health Network. "Until now, we had limited treatment options to offer patients faced with the prospect of losing their sight from this disease which affects people in the prime of their lives."

"We are extremely pleased with Health Canada's decision," said Dr. Julia Levy, president and Chief Executive Officer of QLT Inc. "Visudyne therapy has demonstrated the ability to stabilize, and in many cases improve vision in patients with this devastating condition. In our fight against blindness, Novartis Ophthalmics and QLT are proud to once again be leading the way in addressing serious ocular conditions."

Choroidal neovascularization due to pathologic myopia is caused by abnormal blood vessels that grow under the center of the retina as a result of the abnormal elongation of the back of the eye associated with severe near-sightedness or myopia. It generally occurs among people over 30 years of age and can result in a progressive loss of vision for which no proven treatments existed prior to Visudyne. The worldwide incidence of CNV due to pathologic myopia is estimated to be 50,000 new cases per year.

Visudyne therapy is approved in almost 50 countries for the treatment of AMD in patients with predominantly classic subfoveal CNV.