Advice
Not recommended for use within NHS Scotland
RECOMMENDATION
Methyl aminolevulinate (Metvix) photodynamic therapy (PDT) may be a cost effective treatment option with good cosmetic outcomes which is suitable for patients with superficial or nodular basal cell carcinoma (BCC) who would experience significant treatment related morbidity or poor cosmetic outcomes with alternative therapies, such as radiotherapy and surgical techniques. Its use is intended to be restricted to dermatologists experienced in the treatment of BCC with PDT.
Nevertheless, the company have failed to produce any economic evaluation of this product and hence it cannot be approved for this indication by SMC.
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Medicine details
- Medicine name:
- Methyl aminolevulinate (Metvix cream®)
- SMC ID:
- 51/03
- Indication:
- Superficial and/or nodular basal cell carcinoma
- Pharmaceutical company
- Galderma (UK) Ltd
- BNF chapter
- Skin
- Submission type
- Full
- Status
- Not recommended
- Date advice published
- 04 July 2003