What is "pingyangmycin"

Pingyangmycin (also known as bleomycin A) is an antitumor glycopeptide antibiotic belonging to the bleomycin family, which is produced by Streptomyces verticillus var.'' pingyangensis n.sp.'', a variety of Streptomyces verticillus. It was discovered in 1969 at Pingyang County of Zhejiang Province in China, and was brought into clinical use in 1978.

In China, pingyangmycin has largely superseded bleomycin A (commonly known as "bleomycin"), since it is more effective, costs less, is easier to get, can treat a larger variety of cancers (such as breast cancer and liver cancer) and causes less lung injury. Though it also results in pulmonary fibrosis, unlike bleomycin, its most serious side effect is anaphylactic shock, which is rare, but may happen even in a low dose, and can be fatal. In addition, it causes a higher incidence of fever than bleomycin; the occurrence of this complication in patients is between 20 and 50%.