How does THERAKOS™ Photopheresis work?

Over the past 20 years, several generations of THERAKOS™ Photopheresis instruments have been developed and refined in accordance with our ongoing commitment to the field of immune therapy.

The object is always to improve and shorten the treatment experience while maximizing efficacy.

THERAKOS™ UVAR XTS™ Photopheresis System

Our second generation THERAKOS™ UVAR XTS™ Photopheresis System combines a medical device with a drug therapy. The XTS System utilizes a modular design that minimizes setup time, reduces waste, and is patient-focused — all without altering the science of the therapy or its effect on the patient.

It features:

• Methoxsalen, which is infused extracorporeally
• Fluid Logic Module
  • Self-contained, disposable microprocessor-controlled, pneumatically driven component
• Approximately 3-hour treatment time

THERAKOS™ CELLEX™ Photopheresis System

The next generation, THERAKOS™ CELLEX™ Photopheresis System incorporates the innovative and advanced technologies, providing a new level of patient-focused care.

• Designed in response to physician feedback
• Single, integrated, closed system
  • Same reduced risk of infection, cross-contamination, and reinfusion errors as the THERAKOS™ UVAR XTS™ System
  • Allows for single operator management
• Shorter treatment times (halved from 3 hours to 1.5 hours)
• Reduced extracorporeal blood volume versus previous model
• New separation technology
• Single- or double-needle configuration
  • Double needle can reduce treatment times by approximately 30 minutes
• Automated closed system design

How THERAKOS™ Photopheresis works

A small number of the total body lymphocytes (<10%) are collected via leukopheresis within the instrument.

Extracorporeally, methoxsalen, a photoactive substance, is added to the lymphocyte-rich fraction and subsequently irradiated with ultraviolet light.

Irradiation with ultraviolet light photoactivates methoxsalen, which targets DNA. methoxsalennforms single and double-stranded cross-links in DNA, leading to apoptosis of treated cells. The treated cells are then reinfused into the patient.

Although less than 10% of all lymphocytes are treated, some patients achieve a complete improvement in symptoms.

Although the exact mechanism of action is not known, photopheresis may activate the immune-mediated response to modulate malignant T-lymphocytes.