Norwegian bladder cancer company Photocure ASA (OSE: PHO) announced on Monday the publication of a new health economic methodology in The Journal of Medical Economics demonstrating that blue light cystoscopy is cost-effective compared with Narrow Band Imaging for bladder cancer when assessed over a patient's lifetime.

This study introduces a novel cost-utility modelling approach developed for a Danish Treatment Council appraisal, enabling comparison between technologies in the absence of direct clinical data. Using this method, researchers estimated an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of DKK70,707 per QALY gained for blue light cystoscopy, below typical cost-effectiveness thresholds.

The methodology extracts and transforms key data from existing clinical studies to support transparent and robust analysis where evidence gaps exist. The findings reinforce blue light cystoscopy as a viable economic option versus Narrow Band Imaging, while providing a framework for future comparative assessments in similar data-constrained environments.

Photocure said the results further support the clinical and economic value of its technology, which improves tumour detection and management in bladder cancer, a disease characterised by high recurrence rates and significant lifetime treatment costs.