Photodynamic Therapy, the use of light to treat tumours, was a novel area of research. Professor Claude Rimington wanted to test the properties of new drugs to select those most likely to be effective in treating cancers.
During Photodynamic Therapy a drug called a photosensitiser is used. This type of drug is normally harmless, but laser light causes it to break down and release a powerfull cell poison that can kill the tumour.
Professor Claude Rimington was working at the Norsk Hydro Institute in Oslo, Norway in 1984. His research studied methods of preparing and purifying a series of new photosensitiser drugs called hematoporphyrin ethers. He tested the biochemical properties of these new drugs and selected those most likely to be effective in treating cancers. His research laid the groundwork for the development of better drugs such as Photofrin, which is now used to treat lung cancer with photodynamic therapy.
