Trial testing light therapy device for Parkinson’s disease fully enrolled
Ptotopharmics' Celeste intended for at-home use by patients
Photopharmics has completed enrollment of a Phase 3 clinical trial testing Celeste, its light therapy device for Parkinson’s disease, the company announced.
The ongoing Phase 3 trial (NCT04453033), dubbed Light for PD, has enrolled 350 participants with Parkinson’s, surpassing the initial target enrollment of 300 patients. Topline results from the trial are expected in the second quarter of 2026.
“Exceeding our target and closing enrollment is a remarkable milestone for the Parkinson’s community,” Kent Savage, CEO of PhotoPharmics, said in a press release. “We’re proving that rigorous science can be both patient-centered and home-based.”
Therapy expected to reduce sleep disturbances, fatigue, anxiety
Disruptions to the body’s internal clock, or circadian rhythm, may be associated with certain nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson’s, including fatigue and sleep problems, which significantly impact patients’ quality of life.
Celeste is a compact device intended for at-home use that emits specific wavelengths of light to stimulate photoreceptors — light-sensitive cells in the back of the eye that help regulate circadian rhythms. The device-emitted light is based on the company’s Spectramax technology and is intended for use in combination with standard Parkinson’s treatments.
By restoring eye-to-brain signaling, the therapy is expected to reduce sleep disturbances, fatigue, lack of motivation, anxiety, and depression, while also improving cognition. According to the company, this may also lead to improved motor function.
In a previous clinical trial (NCT02175472), Celeste was shown to help reduce disease severity and nonmotor symptoms and improve patients’ quality of life.
In the LIGHT-PD trial, participants are randomly assigned to use either the Celeste phototherapy device or a sham device that emits a different range of light wavelengths, which are not expected to be therapeutic. The device should be positioned toward the user’s face and used each evening for one hour for a period of six months, typically while the patient performs everyday activities such as watching TV, eating dinner, or reading.
Celeste isn’t just another pill or patch — it’s a convenient, easy daily therapy that fits into life at home.
The trial will be conducted nationwide using a fully remote telemedicine model, allowing participants to use the device while connecting with study teams via secure video visits.
The study’s main goal is to assess the treatment’s impact on patient-reported quality of life. Secondary outcomes include evaluating the treatment’s impact on motor and nonmotor activities of daily living, as well as on sleep, depression, anxiety, fatigue, motor symptoms, and cognition.
The company recently announced that it raised $6 million in secure funding to complete the trial and support pre-commercialization activities before submitting the device for regulatory approval.
The Celeste device has been granted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s breakthrough device designation, awarded to medical devices with the potential to offer a significant improvement over existing treatment options for life-threatening or debilitating diseases.
“Celeste isn’t just another pill or patch — it’s a convenient, easy daily therapy that fits into life at home,” Savage said. “The generosity of those who participated in this trial helps advance science and brings real hope to millions.”
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