NC527-X (Zhejiang Haibo Biotechnology)

NC527-X is a targeted near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent imaging agent developed by Zhejiang Haibo Biotechnology (Haibo Bio) for the intraoperative visualization of brain gliomas. The agent is designed to selectively accumulate in glioma cells by targeting Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), a protein that is highly expressed in glioma tissues but minimally present in normal brain tissue. NC527-X typically consists of a targeting moiety, such as a chlorotoxin-derived peptide, conjugated to a fluorescent dye. When administered intravenously prior to surgery, the agent allows surgeons to identify tumor margins and residual cancerous cells in real-time using NIR imaging systems, facilitating more precise surgical resection. NC527-X is currently in Phase I clinical development in China.