Methyl aminolevulinate
![](/Images/godic/202501/27/Methyl_aminolevulinate.svg1120.png")
![Interim result of phototherapy for actinic keratosis with Metvix one week after exposure. Patient has light skin and blue eyes.](/Images/godic/202501/27/Phototherapy_week1120.png")
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.