Blindness Prevention Costly

Lucentis, a breakthrough drug that treats and reverses wet macular degeneration, is a lifesaver for many affected by the condition. However, at $2,000 a monthly dose, required for the rest of the patients life, the treatment is out of reach for many.

Doctors in Canada have discovered a cheaper alternative while awaiting the arrival of Lucentis in the country. Ophthalmologists are using Avastin, a drug approved to treat colorectal cancer by preventing the growth of new blood vessels. Both drugs are made by the same pharmaceutical company, Genetech, and are molecularly similar.

One ophthalmologist reports that many of his patients are able to read three more lines on an eye chart after receiving a few rounds of treatment with Avastin. Avastin is also cheaper, with one monthly dose costing as little as $150 for the patient. However, because Avastin is being used off label to treat wet macular degeneration, there are some concerns.

Lucentis was subjected to nearly 10 years of clinical studies before being approved by the FDA to treat macular degeneration. Avastin was not studied or approved for use in the eye.

There is upcoming research planned to determine which of the drugs is actually better. The U.S. Government funded National Eye Institute approved a trial in principle that would pit the two drugs against each other.