Avastin (bevacizumab) and Lucentis (ranibizumab) demonstrate similar efficacy for treatment of age-related macular degeneration

A new peer-reviewed article in the American Journal of Ophthalmology suggests there may be no benefit of Lucentis over Avastin in the treatment of Wet Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), i.e., AMD with choroidal neovascularization. The small study indicates that early results of a head-to-head, randomized, double-masked, prospective, single-center controlled trial between bevacizumab (Avastin) and ranibizumab (Lucentis) "show no difference in efficacy between the two treatments for choroidal neovascularizaton in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration." The authors state that "larger sample sizes are needed in order to establish statistical significance." This head-to-head trial of the two treatments is ongoing under the direction of the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health. These results may support the use of Avastin in the treatment of Wet AMD, a potentially blinding condition.

In light of rising health care costs, this study is extremely important. Avastin costs the patient and insurance companies ~$20 dollars per treatment while Lucentis costs ~$2000 per treatment. Both Avastin and Lucentis inhibit the growth of new blood vessels and are in the class of medications that block vascular endothelial growth factor.

References

1. FDA Approves Lucentis As Treatment For Age-Related Blindness. Accessed 11/09/2009. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/46503.php

2. Bevacizumab vs Ranibizumab for Age-related Macular Degeneration: Early Results of a Prospective Double-Masked, Randomized Clinical Trial. American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2009. Accessed 11/09/2009. http://www.ajo.com/article/S0002-9394(09)00505-4/abstract