Hypericin, also known as SGX301, is a novel, first-in-class photodynamic therapy using a potent photosensitizer, synthetic hypericin, that is topically applied and activated by safe visible fluorescent light. This treatment avoids the risk of secondary malignancies (including melanoma) inherent with the frequently employed DNA-damaging chemotherapeutic drugs and other photodynamic therapies that are dependent on ultraviolet A (UVA) light exposure.