Pafolacianine

Pafolacianine, or OTL38, is a folate analogue conjugated with a fluorescent dye that absorbs light in the near-infrared (NIR) spectrum within a range of 760 nm to 785 nm, with a peak absorption of 776 nm. It emits fluorescence within a range of 790 nm to 815 nm with a peak emission of 796 nm. The longer wavelength allows for deeper penetration of the fluorescent light through tissues for better imaging and detection of tumours. Pafolacianine targets the folate receptor alpha (FRα) which is upregulated in numerous epithelial malignancies.

On November 29, 2021, the FDA approved pafolacianine as an adjunct imaging agent for intraoperative identification of malignant lesions in adult patients with ovarian cancer. It is currently under investigation for use in FRα-positive pituitary adenoma, lung cancer, and renal-cell carcinoma, which is thought to be the second-highest folate receptor-expressing cancer.

Pafolacianine is an optical imaging agent indicated in adult patients with ovarian cancer as an adjunct for intraoperative identification of malignant lesions.