OnCo
drugsProductNot mapped hereapproved

Vismodegib

Vismodegib was the first hedgehog-pathway drug, for basal cell carcinomas too advanced for surgery; it shrinks most tumours but muscle cramps, taste loss and hair loss make long-term use hard.

ERIVANCE (NEJM 2012): 30% response in metastatic and 43% in locally advanced BCC; long-term follow-up ~50-60% response in locally advanced disease. Teratogenic (pregnancy prevention programme). Also used in SHH medulloblastoma (adults) and studied neoadjuvantly (VISMONEO). Resistance via SMO mutations.

Loading structure…
|
Vismodegib
PubChem
Modality
Small-molecule smoothened (hedgehog) inhibitor
Mechanism
Binds and inhibits SMO, preventing GLI-mediated transcription downstream of PTCH1 loss.
Brand / code
Erivedge
Medicare
Part D (self-administered)

Oral, self-administered, so it is a Part D drug: covered through a stand-alone Part D plan or Medicare Advantage drug benefit, usually on the specialty tier with 25 to 33% coinsurance until the annual cap ($2,000 in 2025, $2,100 in 2026).

Commercial insurance
covered with prior authorisation

Covered for FDA-labelled and NCCN-listed uses, but almost always behind prior authorisation confirming diagnosis, biomarker and line of therapy; dispensed through a specialty pharmacy.

Assistance programmes

Part D out-of-pocket capped at $2,000 (2025) / $2,100 (2026). Medicare patients cannot use manufacturer co-pay cards; charity funds (PAN, HealthWell, CancerCare) and the Extra Help subsidy are the routes.

Sources: Medicare.gov: Drug coverage (Part D) · Medicare.gov: Costs for Medicare drug coverage (annual out-of-pocket cap). Not medical or financial advice; verify with your plan.

Not recommendedNICE TA489 · 2017
Appraised for
Symptomatic metastatic or locally advanced basal cell carcinoma unsuitable for surgery or radiotherapy
Notes
Was funded under the old CDF before 2016; not routinely available since. Individual funding requests possible.

Sources: NICE TA489. Funding decisions are indication-specific and change monthly; verify with NICE and your treating team.

Regulatory

2top

Approvals

RegionYearIndication
US2012Metastatic BCC or locally advanced BCC recurrent after surgery or not amenable to surgery/radiation
EU2013Same

Trials

top
ClinicalTrials.gov · phase 2/3
refreshed 2026-09-09
62 studies9 recruiting62 Phase 2
Search “Vismodegib” on ClinicalTrials.gov →
Counts are from a name search and may include unrelated studies; up to 100 studies are summarised.

Recruiting now (live from ClinicalTrials.gov)

Recruiting trials near you · live from ClinicalTrials.gov
Vismodegib
intervention: Vismodegib
Open on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Country and place are remembered in this browser only. A postcode is sent to OpenStreetMap's Nominatim service to find coordinates when you press the button; nothing else leaves your device.

Latest papers

top
Latest papers · live from Europe PMC
Open in Europe PMC

Query for this drug: (TITLE:"Vismodegib" OR ABSTRACT:"Vismodegib" OR TITLE:"Erivedge" OR ABSTRACT:"Erivedge") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about Vismodegib, not a curated reading list.

Connected

6top