HB5

HB5 is a novel, second-generation photosensitizer developed by Beijing Zhongke Xianxing Medical Technology in collaboration with the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It is a water-soluble derivative of hypocrellin B, a natural perylenequinone pigment. HB5 is primarily being developed for the treatment of skin cancers, specifically squamous cell carcinoma in situ (Bowen's disease). In photodynamic therapy (PDT), HB5 is applied topically and subsequently activated by specific wavelengths of light, leading to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as singlet oxygen, which induce localized tumor cell apoptosis and necrosis. Compared to first-generation photosensitizers, HB5 aims to offer improved water solubility, faster clearance to reduce skin photosensitivity, and high singlet oxygen quantum yield.

Other names

Hypocrellin B derivative