Surgical operations are becoming safer with the use of a new drug, Bevonescein, which clearly highlights nerves during surgery. This glowing guide significantly reduces the risk of nerve damage.
Surgeries in the head and neck area are often quite complex, especially when the risk of nerve damage is high. Accidental damage to nerves can lead to serious complications, pain, or limited movement. To mitigate this risk, scientists have developed an innovative drug that glows within the body, helping surgeons perform operations more safely.
Bevonescein, this new glowing guide, is administered intravenously to the patient before surgery. The drug rapidly binds to nerve tissue and, under special illumination during the operation, makes the nerves glow green and yellow. This allows the surgeon to clearly see the nerves and avoid accidental damage. The technology reduces the risk of complications and makes surgeries faster and safer.
The study included 27 patients who had tumors or other pathologies in the neck area requiring surgery. The results showed that Bevonescein is safe and significantly improves nerve visibility. Most patients had no complications after surgery, and surgeons noted a considerable increase in nerve visibility. Scientists believe this innovation could be the beginning of a real breakthrough in the medical field.
The technology is based on bioluminescent proteins specifically adapted for nerve tissue. Although the medical community awaits final results, it’s already clear that this glowing guide will bring significant progress for surgeons.
If final studies confirm the drug’s effectiveness, surgeons will be able to minimize the risk of nerve damage. This, in turn, will help patients recover faster, experience fewer complications, and achieve better outcomes.
Source:
Zhou, Y., Liu, J., Zhang, L., et al. (2025). A nerve-specific fluorescent drug enables real-time nerve visualization during surgery. Nature Communications, 16, Article 60737.
