Synthetic hypericin (SGX301; VIMRxyn) for cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma, unspecified

Cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a rare type of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma that affects the skin. It iscaused by white cells, called lymphocytes, growing in an uncontrolled way. CTCL usually develops veryslowly and at an early stage topical treatments of the localised accumulation of the cancer are usuallyused. At a later, more advanced stage, systemic treatments may be used (these work throughout thebody as the cancer spreads outside of the skin).In the UK, the annual incidence of cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma is 0.27 per 100,000 population. It ismore common in older male adults. If treated at an early stage the chances of surviving after five andten years are very high. Disease progression is also very low in the earlier stages of the disease.
Synthetic hypericin (SGX301) is a new investigational drug that can be safely applied directly on theaffected skin. It reacts to fluorescent light, killing the cancer cells. This drug may avoid the use ofalternative treatments that may cause skin cancer in patients exposed to them.