Tumor Paint® Technology & Intraoperative Fluorescence Imaging

Helping surgeons see cancer more clearly

Blaze Bioscience develops imaging agents and imaging systems designed to give surgeons real-time, intraoperative visualization of tumor tissue, so more cancer can be removed with greater precision.

Our Technology Clinical Program
5
Cancer types studied clinically: breast, pediatric and adult brain, skin, and head & neck
FDA
Fast Track Designation: tozuleristide for pediatric CNS tumors
250+
Patients dosed across completed and ongoing clinical studies
IST
Investigator-sponsored trial planned in breast-conserving surgery with real-time fluorescence guidance

The Science

Tumor Paint® is a peptide-based technology that internalizes within cancer cells, enabling near-infrared fluorescence imaging during surgery. Our lead candidate, tozuleristide (BLZ-100), has demonstrated strong safety and diagnostic performance across multiple cancer types.

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The Clinical Program

Blaze has completed clinical studies of tozuleristide across five cancer types including breast, brain (pediatric and adult), skin, and head & neck, accumulating deep clinical experience across hundreds of surgical procedures. Breast cancer is the lead indication, addressing the critical need for real-time margin assessment during breast-conserving surgery.

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The Mission

Blaze was founded to improve the lives of cancer patients. From children undergoing brain cancer surgery to adults navigating lumpectomy decisions, our goal is to give every cancer patient the best possible surgical outcome by making intraoperative tumor visualization sensitive, reliable, and accessible.

Our story
Intraoperative CANVAS® imaging — tozuleristide (BLZ-100) illuminates tumor tissue green during brain surgery

CANVAS® intraoperative imaging: tozuleristide (BLZ-100) illuminates tumor tissue green during pediatric brain surgery.

Tumor Paint® Technology

Real-time visualization of tumor tissue during surgery

Tozuleristide (BLZ-100) is our investigational imaging agent, designed to illuminate cancer cells under near-infrared light during surgery. In breast-conserving procedures, it has the potential to help surgeons achieve clear margins and reduce reoperation rates.

The CANVAS® imaging system provides the intraoperative platform through which surgeons view the tozuleristide fluorescence signal, designed to integrate naturally into the surgical workflow.

Tumor Paint® CANVAS® Imaging Tozuleristide BLZ-100
Science & Technology →
Clinical Program

A pipeline built on rigorous science

From first-in-human trials through completed Phase 2/3 studies in brain cancer, tozuleristide carries one of the broadest clinical safety and imaging databases in fluorescence-guided surgery.

Regulatory

FDA Fast Track Designation

The FDA granted Fast Track Designation to BLZ-100 (tozuleristide) for pediatric central nervous system tumors, recognizing the significant unmet medical need and the potential of this approach.

Milestone

Phase 2/3 and Phase 2 Studies Completed: Brain Cancer

Blaze has completed a Phase 2/3 clinical study in pediatric brain cancer patients and a Phase 2 clinical study in adult brain cancer patients, establishing an extensive clinical record of safety and intraoperative imaging performance. Blaze is in ongoing dialogue with the FDA on next steps for the brain cancer program.

Indication

Breast Cancer: Lead Clinical Program

Breast cancer is Blaze's current lead indication. Tozuleristide is being advanced to assist surgeons performing breast-conserving procedures, directly addressing the need for real-time margin assessment, where positive margins drive reoperation rates as high as 15–21%.1

1 Kim Y, et al. Ann Surg Oncol (2024) 31:3649–3660

Why We Do This

Behind every surgery is a person who deserves the best possible outcome

Blaze Bioscience was founded on a simple but urgent belief: surgeons should be able to clearly see where cancer ends and healthy tissue begins. Today that distinction remains one of the hardest challenges in surgical oncology.

"Dedicated to improving the lives of cancer patients, giving surgeons better visibility and patients better surgical outcomes."
Our Mission & Team →
Surgeon consulting with a patient's family after surgery
Latest from Blaze

News & Publications

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November 2022

Phase 2/3 Clinical Study Completed in Pediatric Brain Cancer

Blaze Bioscience has completed a Phase 2/3 clinical study of tozuleristide and the CANVAS® Imaging System in pediatric brain cancer patients, generating extensive clinical data on safety and intraoperative imaging performance.

Press Release
April 2020

FDA Grants Fast Track Designation to BLZ-100 for Pediatric Central Nervous System Tumors

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted Fast Track Designation to tozuleristide (BLZ-100) for pediatric CNS tumors, recognizing the significant unmet medical need and the potential of fluorescence-guided surgery to improve pediatric brain cancer outcomes.

Press Release
May 2019

Phase 1 Clinical Trial Results for Tumor Paint BLZ-100 Published in Adults with Glioma

Results from the first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trial of tozuleristide (BLZ-100) in adults with glioma have been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Publication

Interested in our clinical program?

Surgeons, researchers, and healthcare institutions can reach out to learn more about tozuleristide and the CANVAS® imaging system.

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