Sep. 28, 2026
Photosensitizers are prescription drugs; there are no "brands" that can be freely purchased at a pharmacy the way everyday consumer goods can be. Below are some well-known photosensitizers that are already on the market worldwide or in clinical trials, listed for reference only — purchasing and using them on your own is strictly forbidden:
l Photofrin® (porfimer sodium): used for esophageal cancer, lung cancer, bladder cancer, etc.
l Visudyne® (verteporfin): used for age-related macular degeneration, etc.
l Foscan® (temoporfin): used for head and neck cancer.
l Laserphyrin® (talaporfin): used for lung cancer, esophageal cancer, etc.
l Levulan® (5-aminolevulinic acid): used for actinic keratosis.
l Metvix® (methyl aminolevulinate): used for basal cell carcinoma, etc.
l Ameluz® (aminolevulinic acid): used for actinic keratosis and basal cell carcinoma.
l Hexvix® / Cysview® (hexaminolevulinate): used for the diagnosis of bladder cancer.
l TOOKAD® (padeliporfin): used for prostate cancer.
l Huaporfin sodium (华卟啉钠, Shanghai Photoacoustic Pharmaceutical): a Class 1 innovative anti-tumor drug, expected to reach the market in 2025.
l Photochlor® (HPPH): used for head and neck cancer, etc. (in the clinical trial stage).
l Others: AlaCare®, Fotolon®, Purlytin®, etc.
In addition, you may come across companies such as Jiuri New Materials. What they produce are industrial photoinitiators (used in UV coatings, inks, etc.), which are completely different from medical photosensitizers.
Finally, it must be emphasized: all medical photosensitizers are prescription drugs. Their use is an extremely serious medical matter that must be assessed and performed by professional physicians. It is absolutely forbidden for anyone to purchase, prepare, or use them on their own.
