Methyl aminolevulinate (Metvix cream®)

Not recommended for use within NHS Scotland.

RECOMMENDATION

Methyl aminolevulinate photodynamic treatment (MAL-PDT) may prove advantageous where size, site or number of lesions limits the efficacy and/or acceptability of cryotherapy. However, there are no data to assess the efficacy and tolerability of MAL-PDT relative to other topical treatments licensed for treating actinic keratosis. Moreover, the costeffectiveness of MAL-PDT in managing actinic keratosis has not been adequately addressed by the company in this submission.

From the information available, cryotherapy seems to be much cheaper, and as effective in most instances. This product may have a place in therapy of lesions where cryotherapy and other licensed topical preparations are contra-indicated, however no data have been provided to substantiate any such claims.