dexamethasone + benzoporphyrin derivative

This combination therapy pairs the photosensitizing agent benzoporphyrin derivative (specifically verteporfin) with the synthetic corticosteroid dexamethasone. Verteporfin is utilized in photodynamic therapy (PDT), where it is activated by non-thermal red light to produce reactive oxygen species, leading to selective damage of neovascular endothelium and subsequent vessel occlusion. Dexamethasone is administered as an adjunct to suppress the inflammatory cascade and reduce subretinal fluid or macular edema often exacerbated by the PDT process. This dual approach is primarily investigated and used for ocular conditions characterized by choroidal neovascularization, such as neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), aiming to stabilize or improve visual acuity while minimizing treatment-induced inflammation.

Brand names

VisudyneDecadronOzurdexMaxidex

Other names

verteporfin + dexamethasoneBPD-MA + dexamethasoneVisudyne + dexamethasone