DermX

DermX is a topical small molecule formulation of norepinephrine hydrochloride developed by ProCertus BioPharm for the prevention of radiation-induced dermatitis (radiodermatitis) in cancer patients, specifically evaluated in post-surgical breast cancer patients. Formulated as a concentrated solution (82.3 mg/mL or 400 mM) in 70% ethanol, the drug is applied topically to the radiation treatment field approximately 20 minutes before each radiotherapy session. DermX acts as a potent agonist of alpha-adrenergic receptors in the smooth muscle cells of cutaneous blood vessels, inducing temporary localized vasoconstriction. This process results in a transient state of hypoxia in the skin, which protects skin stem cells from ionizing radiation-induced oxidative damage and subsequent cell death without compromising the efficacy of the radiation on deeper tumor tissue.

Brand names

DermX

Other names

norepinephrine hydrochloridetopical norepinephrinenorepinephrine HCl