New Medicine mMCC Skin Cancer | London Mole Removal

Bavencio for metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Merck and Pfizer

Bavencio is the first medicine to be licensed in the UK for the treatment of a rare and aggressive form of skin cancer.

Bavencio, a fully human anti-PD-L1 IgG1 monoclonal antibody, can now be used in the treatment of Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma (mMCC). Until now, the only real treatment option for mMCC has been chemotherapy, which is especially unpleasant for the predominantly elderly patients who suffer from the disease.

The drug was approved in Europe in September 2017 following data from a study of 88 patients with metastatic MCC whose disease had progressed after at least one chemotherapy treatmentwas approved in Europe in September .

Professor Ruth Plummer, consultant medical oncologist at the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“The licensing of avelumuab in this disease is an advance for patients as it is well tolerated, and active. Patients with mMCC are often elderly and find our standard chemotherapy hard going, needing dose reductions or breaks from treatment.”

Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma

mMCC is a rare disease, with around 50 new cases a year in the UK, but numbers are rising, due to the ageing population and/or increased UV exposure.

Catherine Bouvier, chief executive of the NET Patient Foundation, welcomed the news:

“We’re really encouraged by the news that avelumab is now licensed for use in the UK. Although rare, mMCC is an aggressive cancer with potentially worse outcomes than other types of skin cancer such as melanoma. An effective, well-tolerated treatment option will be welcomed with open arms by patients with mMCC and their families, so we hope that all stakeholders will work in a collaborative way to ensure that patients in the UK now have access to it as quickly as possible.”

NHS Availability

NICE has started an appraisal of Bavencio to determine whether the treatment is cost effective enough for NHS use. Their decision is expected by April 2018.

Private Mole Checks & Removal

mMCC is rare, but other forms of skin cancer are also on the increase.

Cosmedics Skin Clinics’ London Mole Removal Centre urges the public to be vigilant for any unusual skin lesions, as early diagnosis means the best course of treatment.

The London Mole Removal Centre is a private company, offering mole checks and treatment for unwanted moles and other skin lesions (cysts, skin tags, warts, verruca, lipoma etc) at 5 mole removal clinics.

Further advantages of private treatment at the London Mole Removal Centre include:

All consultations and treatments are carried out in person by doctors who are specially trained and highly experienced in the field
Latest laser and skin surgery mole removal techniques
No waiting lists
Moles can often be removed in the same appointment as the consultation
Choice of clinics in London and also Bristol
Removed moles tested with report provided

For more information or to book a consultation, please complete the form on this web page or call 020 7731 3791.