SpectraCure AB is a spin-off company from Lund University, Lund, Sweden.

Scientific work on PDT has been performed for more than 25 years at the Lund University Medical Laser Centre and the Division of Atomic Physics by the research group headed by Professor Sune Svanberg and clinicians headed by Professor Katarina Svanberg. The scientists and clinicians have clinical experience from more than 2700 photodynamic treatments of superficial lesions.

SpectraCure AB was founded in March 2003 as a joint venture between Karolinska Innovations AB, Lund University Development AB and scientists at Lund University. 

Since 2010, SpectraCure AB has new owners and new management. The company is located in Lund, Sweden.

HISTORY OF PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY

The earliest recorded treatments that exploited a photosensitizer and a light source, in this case sunlight, for medical effect can be found in ancient Egyptian and Indian sources. At the turn of the 20th century, in the laboratory of von Tappeiner in Munich, Germany, the first detailed scientific evidence emerged that certain agents, photosensitive synthetic dyes, in combination with a light source and oxygen could have potential therapeutic effect.

Since then the development has taken big leaps forward. One hurdle that has hindered many researchers to advance the development has been how to control the light in order to expose the tumor with the exact amount of light to achieve maximum effect. SpectraCure has developed its sophisticated dose management platform IDOSE® for just that purpose.