Verteporfin

Verteporfin (trade name Visudyne), a benzoporphyrin derivative, is a medication used as a photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy to eliminate the abnormal blood vessels in the eye associated with conditions such as the wet form of macular degeneration. Verteporfin accumulates in these abnormal blood vessels and, when stimulated by nonthermal red light with a wavelength of 689 nm[1] in the presence of oxygen, produces highly reactive short-lived singlet oxygen and other reactive oxygen radicals, resulting in local damage to the endothelium and blockage of the vessels.[2][3]

Verteporfin
Clinical data
Trade namesVisudyne
AHFS/Drugs.comMonograph
MedlinePlusa607060
License data
Pregnancy
category
  • US: C (Risk not ruled out)
    Routes of
    administration    		Intravenous
    ATC code
    Legal status
    Legal status
    Identifiers
    CAS Number
    PubChem CID
    DrugBank
    ChemSpider
    UNII
    KEGG
    ChEBI
    ChEMBL
    Chemical and physical data
    FormulaC41H42N4O8
    Molar mass718.794 g/mol g·mol−1
    3D model (JSmol)
     NY (what is this?)  (verify)

    Verteporfin is also used off-label for the treatment of central serous retinopathy.[4]

    Administration

    Verteporfin is given intravenously, 15 minutes before laser treatment.[2]

    Contraindications

    Porphyria.[2]

    Side effects

    Most common side effects are blurred vision, headache, and local effects at the injection site. Also, photosensitivity; it is advised to avoid exposure to sunlight and unscreened lighting until 48 hours after the injection of verteporfin.[2]

    Interactions

    Verteporfin is known to interact with the herbal remedy feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium), the latter of which seems to act as an antagonist to verteporfin for unknown reasons. Taking the two substances simultaneously is inadvisable.[5]

    Verteporfin has no influence on the liver enzyme CYP3A4, which metabolises many pharmaceutical drugs.[2]

    References
    1. "Visudyne package insert" (PDF).
    2. Verteporfin Monograph
    3. Scott, L. J.; Goa, K. L. (2000). "Verteporfin". Drugs & Aging. 16 (2): 139–146, discussion 146–8. doi:10.2165/00002512-200016020-00005. PMID 10755329.
    4. Adelman, R.; Adelman, R. A. (2013). "Profile of verteporfin and its potential for the treatment of central serous chorioretinopathy". Clinical Ophthalmology. 7: 1867–1875. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S32177. PMC 3788817. PMID 24092965.
    5. "Feverfew and Verteporfin Interactions". Retrieved 14 April 2015.
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