Dr. Sekulic on Vismodegib for Basal-Cell Nevus Syndrome

Aleksandar Sekulic, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, discusses the administration of the oral hedgehog pathway inhibitor vismodegib (Erivedge) for the treatment and prevention of basal-cell carcinoma (BCC) in patients with basal-cell nevus syndrome, a rare disorder also known as Gorlin syndrome.

A phase II trial randomized 41 patients with basal-cell nevus syndrome in a 2:1 ratio to received vismodegib or placebo for 18 months. In the trial, patients treated with vismodegib demonstrated fewer new BCCs and a reduction in the size of existing BCCs when compared to placebo.

Sekulic believes that vismodegib holds the potential to be a game changer by offering a significant clinical benefit for patients with this rare syndrome.