Illuminating the Way for Precision Surgery

Loss of nerve function can be catastrophic. As many as 80% of prostate surgeries result in incontinence or erectile dysfunction because of nerve damage, and as many as 25% of head and neck surgeries damage the facial nerves.

At Alume Biosciences, we believe that there is a better way to protect and preserve nerve function in surgery. Our nerve illumination technology has the potential to support surgeons so that patients everywhere can benefit. Learn how you can help us move surgery into the light.

Learn how Alume’s proprietary nerve illumination technology can be applied in surgery to support surgeons

About bevonescein (ALM-488)


Alume was born out of a collaboration between surgeon Dr. Quyen Nguyen and Nobel Laureate Dr. Roger Tsien working to develop bevonescein, a compound to make nerves glow during surgery and with the potential to make surgery safer. This research earned Dr. Nguyen a Presidential Early Career Scientist Award in 2014 and has been lauded by some of the world’s top surgeons.

Bevonescein is Alume’s breakthrough peptide currently in Phase 3 clinical trials. Alume plans to submit a New Drug Application for bevonescein to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2025.

How It Works

administer hnp401

Before Surgery
Patient receives ALM-488 through IV 60 minutes before surgery begins. 

StepStepadminister hnp401

During Surgery
Illuminated nerves visible to the surgical team during patient surgery.

StepStepadminister alm488

After Surgery
ALM-488 is cleared through the kidneys and gone from body in hours.

Hear From The Experts

  • endquoteWorking around critical nerves is 90% of head and neck surgery... Injury to the cranial nerves can result in life debilitating deficits such as facial paralysis, hoarseness, voice problems, and shoulder weakness... The potential of nerve illumination is that it will augment the surgeon's capacity to preserve these nerves and ultimately result in better function and quality-of-life outcomes for our patients. Jeremy Richmon, MD
    Harvard Medical School
    Massachusetts Eye and Ear
    Clinical Associate, Division of Head and Neck Surgery
    Director, Head and Neck Robotic Surgery         endquote
  • endquoteThe technology being developed by Alume Biosciences is interesting, and has real potential to improve the accuracy of resections and reconstructive procedures. Neural imaging could be envisioned to aid in the conduct of numerous procedures, and the underlying approach will likely have application extending beyond the initially anticipated uses. This is definitely a technology to watch.Allan D. Kirk, MD, Ph.D.
    Duke University School of Medicine Chair, Department of Surgery
    David C. Sabiston, Jr. Professor of Surgery
    Professor, Department of Immunology
    Professor, Department of Pediatrics    endquote
  • endquoteNerves are small and can be quite hard to identify during surgery, especially if there is cancer invasion, infection or trauma. The ability to see nerves using fluorescence during surgery would be a significant advance and has the potential to improve outcome in patients. Eben Rosenthal, MDBarry and Amy Baker Professor and Chair
    Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
    Vanderbilt University Medical Center    endquote
  • endquoteNerve injury during surgery can be quite debilitating for patients. The use of a nerve illuminating compound during surgery would be a significant advance and has the potential to improve outcome in patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures. Justin M. Brown, MD
    Massachusetts General Hospital
    Director, Neurosurgery Paralysis Center     endquote
Alume Biosciences ALM-488