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Two anti-VEGFs demonstrate no visual acuity difference at 2 years, CATT author says
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SEATTLE — Despite what many have said, the Comparison of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatment Trials showed ranibizumab and bevacizumab are equivalent for visual acuity, according to an expert speaking here.
“We are talking about a 0.5 D difference,” Daniel F. Martin, MD, said regarding visual acuity results in the CATT. “People see it the way they want to see it, but one line is really trivial. This is noise. There is no statistically significant difference at 2 years.”
Martin spoke at the Cole Eye Institute Retina Summit before the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting.
Martin also said that while as-needed treatment with either drug created a small statistically significant difference in vision compared with monthly treatment, as-needed dosing is a viable option for other reasons. According to Martin, 10% to 20% of patients needed only three injections over the course of a year.
“PRN dosing led to 10 fewer injections per patient over 2 years,” he said.
Among other important findings from the CATT are that both Lucentis (ranibizumab, Genentech) and Avastin (bevacizumab, Genentech) produce immediate and dramatic visual acuity improvement, but ranibizumab provided better mean change in retinal thickness and mean change in lesion area, Martin said.
The study also found early treatment before visual acuity is profoundly affected will help patients achieve the best visual acuity.
Disclosure: Martin has no relevant financial disclosures.