2 The technology

Vismodegib (Erivedge, Roche)
Marketing authorisation	Vismodegib is indicated for the treatment of 'adult patients with: symptomatic metastatic basal cell carcinoma locally advanced basal cell carcinoma inappropriate for surgery or radiotherapy'.
Recommended dose and schedule	The recommended dose is 1×150‑mg capsule taken once daily. Treatment should be continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Price	Vismodegib is available at the list price of £6,285 for 28 capsules, each containing 150 mg (£224.50 per capsule; excluding VAT, British national formulary). The company has agreed a patient access scheme with the Department of Health. If vismodegib had been recommended, this scheme would provide a simple discount to the list price of vismodegib with the discount applied at the point of purchase or invoice. The level of the discount is commercial in confidence. The Department of Health considered that this patient access scheme would not constitute an excessive administrative burden on the NHS.