Visudyne

Verteporfin

Clinical data
Trade names	Visudyne
AHFS/Drugs.com	Monograph
MedlinePlus	a607060
Pregnancy category	US: C (Risk not ruled out)
Routes of administration	Intravenous
ATC code	S01LA01 (WHO)
Legal status
Legal status	US: ℞-only
Identifiers
IUPAC name 3-[(23S,24R)-14-ethenyl-5-(3-methoxy-3-oxopropyl)-22,23-bis(methoxycarbonyl)-4,10,15,24-tetramethyl-25,26,27,28-tetraazahexacyclo[16.6.1.13,6.18,11.113,16.019,24]octacosa-1,3,5,7,9,11(27),12,14,16,18(25),19,21-dodecaen-9-yl]propanoic acid
CAS Number	129497-78-5 Y
PubChem CID	5362420
DrugBank	DB00460 Y
ChemSpider	21106402 Y
UNII	0X9PA28K43
KEGG	D01162 Y
ChEBI	CHEBI:60775 Y
ChEMBL	CHEMBL2218885 N
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C41H42N4O8
Molar mass	718.794 g/mol
3D model (Jmol)	Interactive image
SMILES COC(=O)[C@@H]2C(=C\C=C3\c1cc6nc(cc5nc(cc4nc(cc(n1)[C@]23C)C(/C)=C4/CCC(=O)OC)c(CCC(O)=O)c5C)C(/C=C)=C6/C)/C(=O)OC
InChI InChI=1S/C41H42N4O8/c1-9-23-20(2)29-17-34-27-13-10-26(39(49)52-7)38(40(50)53-8)41(27,5)35(45-34)19-30-22(4)25(12-15-37(48)51-6)33(44-30)18-32-24(11-14-36(46)47)21(3)28(43-32)16-31(23)42-29/h9-10,13,16-19,38,43,45H,1,11-12,14-15H2,2-8H3,(H,46,47)/b31-16-,33-18-,34-17-,35-19-/t38-,41+/m0/s1 Y Key:ZCQHFRFEJXRZDF-YWANUUMDSA-N Y
NY (what is this?)

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 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.

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

Verteporfin is given intravenously, 15 minutes before laser treatment.

Porphyria.

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.

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.

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