Verteporfin
Verteporfin (Visudyne), YAP inhibitor
Also known as: Visudyne
An approved eye drug that, injected into wounds in mice, produced regeneration without scars in a landmark 2021 Science paper; the first human scar trial started in June 2026, and off-label self-use carries days of severe photosensitivity.
Overview
Verteporfin is FDA-approved for photodynamic therapy in macular degeneration. Stanford researchers showed that blocking YAP with verteporfin stops Engrailed-1 activation in wound fibroblasts, so mouse wounds heal with hair follicles and glands instead of scar tissue. That paper made it a fixation in scar and hair communities. A Phase 2 trial (SCARFREE-001) of intradermal verteporfin in surgical wounds began in June 2026. Outside a trial, it is an off-label use of a light-activated drug that causes marked skin and eye photosensitivity for days.
Mechanism of action
Inhibits YAP-TEAD signaling, preventing Engrailed-1 lineage activation in fibroblasts and shifting healing toward regeneration.
Key studies & citations
- Animal2021
Preventing Engrailed-1 activation in fibroblasts yields wound regeneration without scarring
Mouse wounds regenerated hair follicles and glands instead of scars.
Science - Human2026
SCARFREE-001: intradermal verteporfin in surgical wounds (Phase 2)
First human trial for scar prevention, started June 2026.
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT07488988
Frequently asked questions
Does verteporfin remove old scars?
The mouse work is about preventing scars in fresh wounds. Nothing shows reversal of established scars.
Why is self-injecting it risky?
It is a photosensitizer. After dosing, skin and eyes react severely to light for days, and the wound-injection dose, timing and safety are exactly what the 2026 trial is designed to find out.