Simply stated, macular degeneration is the most common cause of age related blindness. This week, it seems that there may be a cheaper medical alternative that previously thought as a new report states that both brand names Lucentis and Avastin are equally affective. Avastin costs about $50 USD a dose, while Lucentis runs a patient about $2,000 USD.
Dr. Daniel Martin, chair of ophthalmology at the Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute stated:
“Lucentis and Avastin were equivalent for visual acuity. When we looked at the number of letters gained or lost on an eye chart, the lost or gained lines of vision, the two drugs are virtually identical.”
Doctors have been treating most macular degeneration patients off-label with Avastin (bevacizumab), which is primarily a cancer treatment, since it’s chemically similar to Lucentis (ranibizumab).
Bevacizumab is currently used to battle ovarian cancer and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for cancers that are metastatic (have spread to other parts of the body). It received its first approval in 2004 for combination use with standard chemotherapy for metastatic colon cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. In 2008, it was approved by the FDA for use in metastatic breast cancer, a decision that generated some controversy as it went against the recommendation of its advisory panel, who objected because it only slowed tumor growth but failed to extend survival. In the US, Members of a Food and Drug Administration panel said in July 2010 that they do not see enough of a benefit from Avastin in advanced breast cancer to justify its serious risks.
Dr. Anthony Adamis, vice president and global head of ophthalmology at Genentech, which manufactures both drugs comments:
“We still believe Lucentis is the best treatment for macular degeneration. It was designed for use in the eye and clears the bloodstream in a couple of hours; Avastin, intended for cancer patients, hangs around for 20 days or more. Doctors order it [Avastin] in a single vial and then split it up into fraction strength doses for use in the eye.”
The truth is that fluid from the retina is often a cause of vision loss. Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease associated with aging that gradually destroys sharp, central vision. Central vision is needed for seeing objects clearly and for common daily tasks such as reading and driving.
AMD affects the macula, the part of the eye that allows you to see fine detail. AMD causes no pain.
In some cases, AMD advances so slowly that people notice little change in their vision. In others, the disease progresses faster and may lead to a loss of vision in both eyes. AMD is a leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 years of age and older.
According to the National Eye Institute, wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels behind the retina start to grow under the macula. These new blood vessels tend to be very fragile and often leak blood and fluid. The blood and fluid raise the macula from its normal place at the back of the eye. Damage to the macula occurs rapidly.
With wet AMD, loss of central vision can occur quickly. Wet AMD is also known as advanced AMD.
Sources: The New England Journal of Medicine and
Written by Sy Kraft