Aminolevulinic acid

Active ingredient description

5-Aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is a natural biochemical precursor of heme that is metabolised in a series of enzymatic reactions to fluorescent porphyrins, particularly PPIX. 5-ALA synthesis is regulated by an intracellular pool of free heme via a negative feedback mechanism. Administration of excess exogenous 5-ALA avoids the negative feedback control, and accumulation of PPIX occurs in target tissue. In the presence of visible light, fluorescence of PPIX (photodynamic effect) in certain target tissues can be used for photodynamic diagnosis.

Medicine classification

This medicinal substance has been classified in the anatomical therapeutic chemical (ATC) classification according to its main therapeutic use as follows:

ATC code
Group title
Classification
L01XD04
Aminolevulinic acid
L Antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents → L01 Antineoplastic agents → L01X Other antineoplastic agents → L01XD Sensitizers used in photodynamic/radiation therapy
Discover more medicines within L01XD04

Medicines

Aminolevulinic acid is the active ingredient of these drugs:

Drug
Countries
ALACARE

Austria Finland Ireland Netherlands Poland

AMELUZ

Austria Ireland Lithuania Poland Spain

EFFALA

France

GLEOLAN

United States

GLIOLAN

Austria Cyprus Finland France Hong Kong

LEVULAN KERASTICK

Canada

Product monographs

Medicine agencies around the world have authorized marketing of this active ingredient according to these medication package inserts (MPIs):

Title
Type
Country
GLIOLAN Powder for oral solution
Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC)
AMELUZ Gel
Structured Product Labeling (SPL/PLR)
US

Structural formula

Graphic representation of the active ingredient's molecular structure

Unique ingredient identifier (UNII)

88755TAZ87 - AMINOLEVULINIC ACID

CAS registry number

5451-09-2 - 5-aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride

SNOMED-CT

259496005 - 5-aminolevulinic acid (substance)

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