Motexafin lutetium is a

texaphyrin Texaphyrin is a sub-class of heterocyclic macrocycle molecules known as porphyrins. The molecule was invented by University of Texas at Austin professor Jonathan Sessler. The name texaphryin arose because some of the molecules have a shape tha ...

, marketed as Antrin by Pharmacyclics Inc. It is a photosensitiser for use in

photodynamic therapy Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a form of phototherapy involving light and a photosensitizing chemical substance, used in conjunction with molecular oxygen to elicit cell death (phototoxicity). PDT is popularly used in treating acne. It is used cl ...

to treat skin conditions and superficial cancers. It has also been tested for use in photoangioplasty (photodynamic treatment of diseased arteries). It is photoactivated by 732 nm light which allows greater depth of penetration.

Clinical trials

Phase II clinical trials were in progress in 1999. A phase I trial for

prostate cancer Prostate cancer is cancer of the prostate. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancerous tumor worldwide and is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related mortality among men. The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system that sur ...

reported in 2009.

References

Tetrapyrroles Lutetium complexes {{dermatologic-drug-stub