Plant-Based Zinc Protoporphyrin for Neonatal Jaundice Therapy

Stanford scientists have developed a plant-derived zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP) produced from legume hemoglobin, a breakthrough therapy candidate for treating neonatal jaundice.

Neonatal jaundice affects millions of newborns worldwide, posing a serious health challenge that can lead to neurological damage if not treated promptly. Traditional treatments often rely on animal-derived compounds or phototherapy, which have limitations regarding efficacy, scalability, and safety.

Our technology offers a new solution: it starts with extracting heme, a naturally occurring iron-containing molecule, from legume hemoglobin using a series of well-developed purification steps. Notably, the compound is not photoreactive, making it uniquely safe for newborns. This innovation enables scalable production of pharmaceutical-grade material from sustainable plant sources, positioning it as an accessible and effective therapy for hospitals and birthing centers

Stage of Development: Research - in vivo data