Methyl aminolevulinate (MAL) is a drug used as a sensitizer in

photodynamic therapy Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a form of phototherapy involving light and a photosensitizing chemical substance, used in conjunction with molecular oxygen to elicit cell death (phototoxicity). PDT is popularly used in treating acne. It is used cl ...

. It is a prodrug that is metabolized to

protoporphyrin IX Protoporphyrin IX is an organic compound, classified as a porphyrin, that plays an important role in living organisms as a precursor to other critical compounds like heme (hemoglobin) and chlorophyll. It is a deeply colored solid that is not solu ...

. 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 Basal-cell carcinoma (BCC), also known as basal-cell cancer, is the most common type of skin cancer. It often appears as a painless raised area of skin, which may be shiny with small blood vessels running over it. It may also present as a raise ...

. It is now approved in many countries and has been used to treat non-melanoma

skin cancer Skin cancers are cancers that arise from the skin. They are due to the development of abnormal cells that have the ability to invade or spread to other parts of the body. There are three main types of skin cancers: basal-cell skin cancer (BCC) ...

(including

). 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

Prodrugs Antineoplastic drugs Methyl esters Ketoesters {{antineoplastic-drug-stub