Bevacizumab, ranibizumab found equivalent in AMD trial

Maynard L. Pohl

SALT LAKE CITY — One-year results from the Comparison of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatment Trials showed that bevacizumab and ranibizumab were found to be equivalent when administered monthly or as needed, according to a speaker here at Optometry's Meeting.

Maynard L. Pohl, OD, FAAO, told attendees at an Optometric Retina Society-sponsored session during Specialty Day that the patients in this study comparing Lucentis (ranibizumab, Genentech) with Avastin (bevacizumab, Genentech) will be followed for 2 years.

"The other thing it showed was that the decrease in central thickness was greatest with Lucentis monthly, but there was also a significant decrease in edema," Dr. Pohl said.

"Not surprisingly, Avastin and Lucentis didn't kill anymore patients in one group vs. the other," he continued. "The incidence of myocardial infarction and stroke were similar; but there was an increase in side effects [with Avastin]."

According to study data, serious systemic adverse effects were higher with Avastin (24.1%) than Lucentis (19.0%).

Dr. Pohl also discussed the economic implications in drug selection for wet AMD patients.

"There's really a big issue here with determining value," he said. "For the first time, physicians and scientists are looking at what constitutes good value."

A single dose of Lucentis costs nearly 40 times more than a single dose of Avastin, he said.

Disclosure:

Dr. Pohl has no direct financial interest in the products mentioned in this article, nor is he a paid consultant for any companies mentioned.