Cheaper skin cancer drug in Iceland

doctorAs of 1st of May, Icelanders have been paying a new price for the drug Metvix. The Icelandic pharmaceutical reimbursement authority recently accepted a new price for the drug equal to the Scandinavian average plus 15 percent. In addition, the authority approved full reimbursement for the drug, according to Photocure.

The Icelandic pharmaceutical reimbursement authority made the decision based on the benefit of the drug to patients in Iceland. Metvix, often used in conjunction with Aktilte, is a non-invasive, effective treatment for skin cancer. Health economic analyses have proved that Metvix is good value for money both to society and the population at large, as well as to the health care service.

Metvix has been approved in the European Union and European Economic Area for the treatment of actinic keratosis, Bowen’s Disease and Basal Cell Carcinoma. Metvix is also a skin cancer treatment cream which is used in combination with a red light treatment known as Aktilte, which activates the drug after it has been absorbed into the cancer cells.

When the cream is applied on the skin, photoactive molecules are accumulated in neoplastic tissue. The red light generates reactive oxygen species in the presence of oxygen, which is able to destroy the neoplastic cells while preserving healthy tissue.

Metvix and Aktilite are both registered trademarks of Photocure ASA.