The company behind the world’s first light-emitting sticking plaster for skin cancer treatment is poised to begin marketing its device around the world.
Ambicare Health was founded by Professor Robert Ferguson, from Dundee University, and Professor Ifor Samuel, from St Andrews University, to tap into the growing market for photodynamic therapy (PDT).
This involves a drug being applied to the skin and then activated by a light source, causing it to destroy the cancer cells.
Non-malignant skin cancer is one of the world’s fastest growing diseases and the market for PDT could be worth £1 billion by 2015.
Normally the therapy has to be done in hospital, but Ambicare has developed a wearable device, called the Ambulight, that allows patients to get on with their normal lives.
The company has just completed a £1.7 million fund-raising exercise to enable it to start rolling out the product around the UK and overseas.
Supporters include Longbow Capital, the Scottish Venture Fund run by Scottish Enterprise, and publishers DC Thomson.
It has also found a distribution partner and named a new sales and marketing director, Gary Conroy, who has 20 years’ experience in the industry.
Chief executive Ian Muirhead said, “I am delighted to announce both the completion of this fund-raising and Gary’s appointment at this crucial time for Ambicare Health.
“Feedback from dermatologists on the Ambulight PDT has been excellent and indicates that we have a product that will make a real difference in how patients are treated for non-melanoma skin cancer.
“We believe that Gary’s experience will be invaluable as we commercialise our technology and target widespread adoption of the Ambulight PDT both in the UK and overseas.”