Kansai Medical University's Institute of Photoimmune Medicine, Tsukuba University, and Illumi Medical signed a joint research agreement to expand photoimmunotherapy applications to deep tissue cancers. The partnership combines Illumi Medical's proprietary intravascular light irradiation system "ET-BLIT®" with Kansai Medical's photoimmunotherapy drugs to validate effectiveness and safety in tumor-bearing pig models.

Photoimmunotherapy is emerging as the fifth cancer treatment modality after surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy. By administering drugs that adhere specifically to cancer cells with photoreactive substances, then irradiating with laser light, cancer cells are destroyed. This collaboration aims to expand therapeutic applications beyond conventional indications.

The partnership establishes an academic-industry development framework where Illumi Medical contributes device development expertise and supply, Kansai Medical contributes clinical and basic research knowledge and drugs, and Tsukuba University contributes clinical and non-clinical knowledge. The team plans to eventually pursue clinical trials for real-world implementation.