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Methyl aminolevulinate

Chemical compound

Chemical compound

| Drugs.com = | elimination_half-life =

Methyl aminolevulinate (MAL) is a drug used as a sensitizer in photodynamic therapy. It is a prodrug that is metabolized to protoporphyrin IX. It is marketed as Metvix.

Metvix cream is applied topically and some time later the skin is illuminated with a proprietary red light (630 nm) source (medical lamp 'Aktilite') to activate the photosensitiser.

Metvix is developed by Photocure and Galderma has bought all rights to Metvix.

Approvals and indications

Methyl aminolevulinate is approved in New Zealand for treatment of basal cell carcinoma.

It is now approved in many countries and has been used to treat non-melanoma skin cancer (including basal cell carcinoma).

It has some advantages over Levulan.

It has been reported as controversial in some quarters, with severe pain allegedly being experienced by some patients.

References

References

  1. "Photocure Divests Metvix to Galderma for EUR 51 Million".
  2. (2003). "Methyl aminolevulinate photodynamic therapy (MAL PDT)". DermNet NZ.
  3. (2006). "New 5 Year Metvix-PDT Data Demonstrate Long-Term Efficacy & Reliability For NM Skin Cancer Treatment". EurekAlert!.
  4. (2009). "Porphyrin and nonporphyrin photosensitizers in oncology: preclinical and clinical advances in photodynamic therapy". Photochemistry and Photobiology.
  5. (16 November 2013). "Concerns raised over ALA skin cancer cream as patients recount 'horrendous' pain". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
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