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Comparison studies of anti-VEGF agents a 'global effort'
 Daniel F. Martin |
KAANAPALI, Hawaii — The extent of studies comparing dosing and treatment strategies for bevacizumab and ranibizumab may come as a surprise to some, according to a presenter here.
"Many people do not realize there is really a global effort to understand the difference between these two drugs," said Daniel F. Martin, MD, who presented an update on the Comparison of AMD Treatments Trials (CATT) and other global comparative anti-VEGF studies at Retina 2011. "Because we as retina specialists launched bevacizumab, we have an ethical responsibility to understand how it compares to ranibizumab."
As a result, according to Dr. Martin, that effort has been picked up by a number of other countries. CATT leads this effort in the U.S.
CATT extends across 44 centers and includes 1,208 patients. It is comparing monthly treatment with Avastin (bevacizumab, Genentech) vs. Lucentis (ranibizumab, Genentech) in two study arms and as-needed treatment with bevacizumab vs. ranibizumab in two additional arms. A pharmacogenetics portion of this study supported by a National Eye Institute grant is now under way to look at 35 single nucleotide polymorphisms for CATT patients, according to Dr. Martin.
In all, six randomized clinical trials are under way worldwide. Among these are the U.K.'s IVAN trial, Germany's VIBERA trial, Austria's MANTA trial and the LUCAS trial of Norway.
- Disclosure: Daniel F. Martin, MD, has no relevant financial interest to disclose.
Hawaiian Eye and Retina 2012 will be held January 15-20 at the Grand Wailea Resort & Spa in Maui. Learn more at OSNHawaiianEye.com or RetinaMeeting.com.