Skip to main content
TTrialFinderData
TrialFinderData is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. Always talk to your doctor.

Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 2INTERVENTIONAL

Intravesical Photodynamic Therapy ("PDT") in BCG-Unresponsive/Intolerant Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer ("NMIBC") Patients

A Phase II Clinical Study of Intravesical Ruvidar® in Patients With BCG-Unresponsive Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer ("NMIBC") Carcinoma In-Situ ("CIS") or Patients Who Are Intolerant to BCG Therapy ("Study II")

Intravesical Photodynamic Therapy ("PDT") in BCG-Unresponsive/Intolerant Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer ("NMIBC") Patients (NCT03945162) is a Phase 2 interventional studying Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer ("NMIBC") Unresponsive/Intolerant to BCG, sponsored by Theralase® Technologies Inc.. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

This is a phase II, open-label, single-arm, multi-center Study conducted in Canada and the United States. Patients with Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer ("NMIBC") Carcinoma In-Situ ("CIS") (with or without resected papillary disease (Ta, T1)) that are considered Bacillus Calmette-Guerin ("BCG")-Unresponsive or who are intolerant to BCG therapy. BCG-Unresponsive is at least one of the following: At least five of six doses of an initial induction course plus at least two of three doses of maintenance therapy; or, at least five of six doses of an initial induction course plus at least two of six doses of a second induction course. Patients experiencing disease relapse within 12 months after finishing the second course of BCG therapy are considered BCG-Unresponsive. The Study will consist of 90 patients who will undergo one (1) Study Procedure, with up to two (2) additional re-induction Study Procedures based on patient response.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether a treatment actually works against Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer ("NMIBC") Unresponsive/Intolerant to BCG and continue monitoring side effects. Phase 2 enrolls larger groups (typically 100–300 patients) and produces the first real efficacy signal. A successful Phase 2 readout is what unlocks the much larger Phase 3 confirmatory trials needed for FDA approval.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

Target enrollment of 90 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer ("NMIBC") Unresponsive/Intolerant to BCG subpopulation. At this scale, the study has enough statistical power to detect a clear treatment effect but is not the largest cohort in the field.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: 1. Be willing and able to provide a written willing to sign a consent form Form ("ICF") for the Study. 2. Be \> 18 years of age on day of signing ICF. 3. Have diagnosed by tissue sample (biopsy-confirmed) NMIBC CIS via biopsy with/without resected papillary disease (Ta, T1) (high grade) using the 2004 World Health Organization ("WHO") / International Society of Urologic Pathology classification system. The most recent cystoscopy / TURBT must have been performed within 12 weeks of the Study Procedure date to confirm: histology, grade and stage. 4. Intolerant to BCG or considered BCG-Unresponsive, which is at least one of the following: - At least five of six doses of an initial induction course, plus at least two of three doses of maintenance therapy, or - At least five of six doses of an initial induction course, plus at least two of six doses of a second induction course. 5. Are not candidates for cystectomy on medical grounds or refuse radical cystectomy. 6. Have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group ("ECOG") performance score of 0 to 2. 7. Have satisfactory bladder function. Ability to retain Study Drug for a minimum of 60 minutes. 8. Are available for the duration of the Study including follow-up (approximately 15 months). 9. Female patients of childbearing potential must have a negative Human Chorionic Gonadotropin ("HCG") pregnancy test taken during the screening visit and confirmed prior to the Study Procedure. 10. Female patients of childbearing potential must be willing to use 2 methods of birth control (i.e.: oral contraceptive, pills, diaphragm or condoms) or be surgically sterile, or abstain from heterosexual activity for two weeks after the Study Procedure. Patients of childbearing potential are those who have not been surgically sterilized or have not been free from menses for \>1 year. Who Should NOT Join This Trial: 1. Past or current muscle invasive (i.e.: T2, T3, T4) or metastatic urothelial carcinoma. ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Be willing and able to provide a written Informed Consent Form ("ICF") for the Study. 2. Be \> 18 years of age on day of signing ICF. 3. Have histologically confirmed NMIBC CIS via biopsy with/without resected papillary disease (Ta, T1) (high grade) using the 2004 World Health Organization ("WHO") / International Society of Urologic Pathology classification system. The most recent cystoscopy / TURBT must have been performed within 12 weeks of the Study Procedure date to confirm: histology, grade and stage. 4. Intolerant to BCG or considered BCG-Unresponsive, which is at least one of the following: * At least five of six doses of an initial induction course, plus at least two of three doses of maintenance therapy, or * At least five of six doses of an initial induction course, plus at least two of six doses of a second induction course. 5. Are not candidates for cystectomy on medical grounds or refuse radical cystectomy. 6. Have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group ("ECOG") performance score of 0 to 2. 7. Have satisfactory bladder function. Ability to retain Study Drug for a minimum of 60 minutes. 8. Are available for the duration of the Study including follow-up (approximately 15 months). 9. Female patients of childbearing potential must have a negative Human Chorionic Gonadotropin ("HCG") pregnancy test taken during the screening visit and confirmed prior to the Study Procedure. 10. Female patients of childbearing potential must be willing to use 2 methods of birth control (i.e.: oral contraceptive, pills, diaphragm or condoms) or be surgically sterile, or abstain from heterosexual activity for two weeks after the Study Procedure. Patients of childbearing potential are those who have not been surgically sterilized or have not been free from menses for \>1 year. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Past or current muscle invasive (i.e.: T2, T3, T4) or metastatic urothelial carcinoma. 2. Has concurrent extravesical (i.e.: urethra, ureter, renal pelvis, prostate or prostatic ducts) non-muscle invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the urothelium. (confirmed by staging to exclude extravesical disease, which may include radiological imaging and/or biopsy) within 3 months of enrollment: If previous work up occurred more than 3 months prior to enrollment, staging for extravesical disease must be repeated prior to enrolment in order to determine eligibility. 3. Active gross hematuria. 4. Have a known additional malignancy that is progressing or requires active treatment. Exceptions include basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that has undergone potentially curative therapy, in situ cervical cancer or localized prostate cancer under active surveillance with Gleason 6 disease. A history of prostate cancer that was treated with definitive intent (surgically or through radiation therapy) is acceptable, provided that the following criteria are met: Stage T2N0M0 or lower Prostate-Specific Antigen ("PSA") undetectable for 2 years while off androgen deprivation therapy or no more than 2 consecutive rising PSAs. 5. Have a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, surgery or laboratory abnormality that, in the opinion of the PI, might confound the results of the study, interfere with the patient's participation in the study, or is not in the best interest of the patient to participate. 6. Currently receiving treatment with a prohibited concomitant therapy (refer to 12.2.1, Prohibited Medications). 7. Participated in a study with an investigational agent or device within 1 month from the first dose of current Study Procedure. 8. Prior treatment with an intravesical chemotherapeutic agent within 1 month of the first dose of current Study Drug, with the exception of a single perioperative dose of chemotherapy immediately post-TURBT (not considered treatment). 9. Have an active infection requiring systemic therapy, including active or intractable Urinary Tract Infection ("UTI"), not resolved prior to the procedure. 10. Has any contraindication to general or spinal anesthesia. 11. Is pregnant or breastfeeding within the projected duration of Study II, starting with the screening visit through to two weeks following the last Study Procedure.

Treatments Being Tested

COMBINATION_PRODUCT

Ruvidar® (TLD-1433) bladder infusion and PDT

Ruvidar® (TLD-1433) is infused into the bladder and treatment of bladder wall with PDT light activation using the TLC-3200 system.

Locations (16)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

Site 02-012 - University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Site 02-016 - Urology of Indiana
Greenwood, Indiana, United States
Site 02-015 - Associated Medical Professionals of New York
Syracuse, New York, United States
Site 02-017 - Central Ohio Urology Group
Gahanna, Ohio, United States
Site 02-008 - MidLantic Urology
Bala-Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, United States
Site 02-006 - Carolina Urologic Research Center
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States
Site 02-007 - Urology Associates, P. C
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Site 02-010 - Urology San Antonio P. A
San Antonio, Texas, United States
Site 02-009 - Virginia Urology
Richmond, Virginia, United States
Site 02-011 - University of Wisconsin Health University Hospital
Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Site 01-005 - The Vancouver Prostate Centre - Diamond Health Care Centre - Vancouver General Hospital
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Site 01-004 - Nova Scotia Health Authority - Centre for Applied Urology Research
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Site 01-014 - St. Joseph's Healthcare
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Site 01-002- London Health Sciences Centre - Victoria Hospital
London, Ontario, Canada
Site 01-001 - University Health Network - Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Site 01-003 - McGill University Health Centre - Glen-Cedars Cancer Centre
Montreal, Quebec, Canada

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT03945162), the sponsor (Theralase® Technologies Inc.), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT03945162 clinical trial studying?

This is a phase II, open-label, single-arm, multi-center Study conducted in Canada and the United States. Patients with Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer ("NMIBC") Carcinoma In-Situ ("CIS") (with or without resected papillary disease (Ta, T1)) that are considered Bacillus Calmette-Guerin ("BCG")-Unresponsive or who are intolerant to BCG therapy. BCG-Unresponsive is at least one of the following: At least five of six doses of an initial induction course plus at least two of three doses of maintenance therapy; or, at least five of six doses of an initial induction course plus at least two of si… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT03945162?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT03945162?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT03945162. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT03945162. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.