| Actinic keratosis
Ameluz vs Levulan Kerastick
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for actinic keratosis.Deep comparison between: Ameluz vs Levulan Kerastick with Prescriber.AI
AI compares prescribing info and payer-specific access barriers across 1,200+ formularies. Here's a preview of what prescribers are already asking.Safety signalsLevulan Kerastick has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Ameluz based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Levulan Kerastick but not Ameluz, including UnitedHealthcare
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Category
Ameluz
Levulan Kerastick
At A Glance
Topical
Single treatment session; retreat at 3 months if needed
Porphyrin precursor (photosensitizer)
Topical
Every 8 weeks
Porphyrin precursor
Indications
- Actinic keratosis
- Actinic keratosis
Dosing
Actinic keratosis Apply approximately 1 mm thick layer of AMELUZ to lesion(s) and approximately 5 mm of surrounding skin (max area 60 cm2, max 6 g/3 tubes at one time); allow to dry ~10 minutes, occlude for 3 hours, then illuminate immediately with BF-RhodoLED or RhodoLED XL red light; retreat lesions not completely resolved after 3 months.
Actinic keratosis Apply topical solution 20% to target lesions; illuminate with BLU-U Blue Light Photodynamic Therapy Illuminator after 14-18 hours incubation (face or scalp) or after 3 hours with occlusion (upper extremities); treatment may be repeated once for lesions not completely resolved after 8 weeks.
Contraindications
- Known hypersensitivity to porphyrins
- Known hypersensitivity to any component of AMELUZ, including soybean phosphatidylcholine
- Porphyria (uncontrolled phototoxic effects may occur)
- Photodermatoses (PDT may worsen phototoxic or photoallergic reactions)
- Cutaneous photosensitivity at wavelengths of 400-450 nm
- Porphyria or known allergies to porphyrins
- Known sensitivity to any component of the LEVULAN KERASTICK
Adverse Reactions
Most common (>=1%) Application site erythema, pain/burning, irritation, edema, pruritus, exfoliation, scab, induration, vesicles, paresthesia, hyperalgesia, discomfort, erosion, discharge, bleeding, pustules
Serious Severe pain/burning (up to 30-41% of subjects), allergic contact dermatitis, hypersensitivity reactions
Postmarketing Allergic dermatitis, application site inflammation, application site discoloration, eye irritation, diplopia, ocular hyperemia, photophobia, blurred vision, fatigue, hypersensitivity, dysaesthesia, transient amnestic episodes
Most common (>=10%) Application site stinging/burning, erythema, edema, scaling/crusting, hypo/hyperpigmentation, itching, erosion, oozing/vesiculation/crusting, dryness
Serious Transient amnestic episodes, increased photosensitivity, irritation, coagulation defects
Postmarketing Transient amnestic episodes
Pharmacology
Porphyrin precursor prodrug; aminolevulinic acid is metabolized in the skin to protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), which upon activation by red light (~635 nm) generates reactive oxygen species in the presence of oxygen, causing cellular damage and destruction of actinic keratosis lesions.
Porphyrin precursor; aminolevulinic acid is metabolically converted to protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), a photosensitizer that accumulates in skin and, upon blue light exposure, generates singlet oxygen and reactive radicals producing a cytotoxic photodynamic reaction in actinic keratoses.
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Most Common Insurance
Anthem BCBS
Ameluz
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (5/12) · Step Therapy (0/12) · Qty limit (0/12)
Levulan Kerastick
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (5/12) · Step Therapy (0/12) · Qty limit (0/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Ameluz
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (0/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Levulan Kerastick
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (0/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Humana
Ameluz
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (1/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (0/3)
Levulan Kerastick
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (1/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (0/3)
Coverage data sourced from MMIT. Updated monthly.
Savings
No savings programs available for Ameluz.
No savings programs available for Levulan Kerastick.
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AmeluzView full Ameluz profile
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Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.