pingyangmycin

Pingyangmycin is an antitumor glycopeptide antibiotic belonging to the bleomycin family, produced by Streptomyces verticillus var. pingyangensis. It was discovered in Pingyang County, Zhejiang Province, China in 1969 and introduced into clinical use in 1978. Chemically known as bleomycin A5, it is used primarily as an anticancer agent and for sclerotherapy of vascular malformations. Its mechanism of action involves binding to DNA and causing strand breaks through free radical formation, leading to inhibition of DNA replication and apoptosis in tumor cells—possibly mediated via the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. In China, it has largely replaced other forms of bleomycin due to its reported higher efficacy, broader spectrum against cancers (including breast and liver cancer), lower cost, easier availability, and reduced risk of lung injury compared with bleomycin A2. However, its most serious side effect is rare but potentially fatal anaphylactic shock; fever is also more common than with other forms[1][3][4][9].

Brand names

BleomycetinZhengguangmycin A5

Other names

pingyangmycinbleomycin A5BleomycetinZhengguangmycin A5