The photochemical action of dyes in medicine is widely used for treatment of diseases such as jaundice, skin diseases, neuropsychiatric disorders and cancer. Photomedicine is one of the most rapidly developing fields and, for example in photodynamic therapy, relies on the development of new photosensitizing drugs. Historically it goes back to the work of Finsen on medical uses of sun light and the treatment of Lupus vulgaris. Subsequent chemical work aimed at the elucidation of the chemical structure of porphyrins by Willst�tter and Fischer then laid the groundwork for the understanding of porphyrias and the chemical synthesis of tetrapyrroles for clinical use. The principles set out by these scientists are still in use for the current development of photosensitizers as cancer drugs, indicators and antimicrobial agents.

From Finsen to Fischer: The early days of photomedicine

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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