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Photodyn (Hematoporphyrin)

Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Institute of Gansu Province · Phase 1 active Small molecule

Photodyn (generic name: Hematoporphyrin) is a hematoporphyrin Small molecule drug developed by Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Institute of Gansu Province. It is currently in Phase 1 development for Endoscopic Photodynamic Ablation Adjunct for Cancer or High Grade Dysplasia, High Grade Dysplasia associated with Barrett's Esophagus, Malignant tumor of esophagus. Also known as: ERCP stents.

Photodyn works by being activated by light, which then kills cancer cells through a process called photodynamic therapy.

Photodyn (Hematoporphyrin) is a small molecule drug in the hematoporphyrin class, originally developed by the Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Institute of Gansu Province and currently owned by the same institution. It is used to treat various cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer, esophageal cancer, and high-grade dysplasia associated with Barrett's esophagus. Photodyn works by being activated by light, which then kills cancer cells. The commercial status of Photodyn is unclear, but it is approved for use in certain indications. Key safety considerations include the potential for skin and eye irritation.

Likelihood of approval
9.6% vs 9.6% industry baseline
If approved by FDA: likely 2033–2036
Steps remaining: Phase 2 → Phase 3 → NDA/BLA submission
Confidence: Medium
Why this estimate
  • Baseline phase 1 → approval rate +9.6pp
    Industry-wide phase 1 drugs reach approval ~9.6% of the time (BIO/Informa 2023 industry benchmark across all therapeutic areas).
Predicted approval windows by jurisdiction (conditional on FDA approval)
Regulator Country Likely year Lag vs FDA
FDA US 2033–2036
EMA EU 2034–2037 +0.7 yr
MHRA GB 2034–2037 +0.7 yr
Health Canada CA 2034–2038 +0.9 yr
TGA AU 2034–2038 +1.2 yr
PMDA JP 2034–2038 +1.5 yr
NMPA CN 2035–2039 +2.3 yr
MFDS KR 2034–2038 +1.4 yr
CDSCO IN 2034–2039 +1.8 yr
ANVISA BR 2035–2039 +2.3 yr

Hover any row for the lag rationale. Lag estimates are reduced when the drug has FDA Breakthrough or EMA PRIME designation (sponsors file globally in parallel).

Estimate based on the BIO/Informa industry phase transition rates plus per-drug modifiers for therapeutic area, sponsor type, FDA designations, mechanism, and trial design. Per-jurisdiction lags from Tufts CSDD international approval studies. Not investment, clinical or regulatory advice. Methodology: /methodology#likelihood.

At a glance

Generic nameHematoporphyrin
Also known asERCP stents
SponsorHepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Institute of Gansu Province
Drug classhematoporphyrin
ModalitySmall molecule
Therapeutic areaOncology
PhasePhase 1

Mechanism of action

Imagine your body's cells are like houses, and cancer cells are like houses on fire. Photodyn is like a special kind of paint that, when exposed to light, makes the cancer cells burn up and die. This process is called photodynamic therapy and it's a way to target and kill cancer cells without harming healthy cells.

Approved indications

Common side effects

No common side effects on file.

Key clinical trials

Primary sources

Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.

SourceUsed for
ClinicalTrials.govTrial enrolment, design, endpoints, results

Competitive intelligence

For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:

Frequently asked questions about Photodyn

What is Photodyn?

Photodyn (Hematoporphyrin) is a hematoporphyrin drug developed by Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Institute of Gansu Province, indicated for Endoscopic Photodynamic Ablation Adjunct for Cancer or High Grade Dysplasia, High Grade Dysplasia associated with Barrett's Esophagus, Malignant tumor of esophagus.

How does Photodyn work?

Photodyn works by being activated by light, which then kills cancer cells through a process called photodynamic therapy.

What is Photodyn used for?

Photodyn is indicated for Endoscopic Photodynamic Ablation Adjunct for Cancer or High Grade Dysplasia, High Grade Dysplasia associated with Barrett's Esophagus, Malignant tumor of esophagus, Non-small cell lung cancer.

Who makes Photodyn?

Photodyn is developed by Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Institute of Gansu Province (see full Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Institute of Gansu Province pipeline at /company/hepatopancreatobiliary-surgery-institute-of-gansu-province).

What is the generic name of Photodyn?

Hematoporphyrin is the generic (nonproprietary) name of Photodyn.

Is Photodyn also known as anything else?

Photodyn is also known as ERCP stents.

What drug class is Photodyn in?

Photodyn belongs to the hematoporphyrin class. See all hematoporphyrin drugs at /class/hematoporphyrin.

What development phase is Photodyn in?

Photodyn is in Phase 1.

Related

Primary sources · FDA · ClinicalTrials.gov · EMA · SEC EDGAR · ChEMBL · Wikidata · full sourcing