UK Moves Toward Appraising Avastin as a Cheaper Macular Degeneration Treatment

The UK’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is looking into an appraisal for Avastin (bevacizumab), which is frequently used off-label as a cheaper alternative to Lucentis (ranibizumab), to treat wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Roche, the manufacturer of both treatments, offers Lucentis as a smaller, modified form of Avastin that is licensed to treat wet AMD. When asked why Roche is not interested in a license for Avastin as an AMD treatment, company spokeswoman Charlotte Arnold said the company is pursuing cancer treatments with Avastin since Lucentis is already licensed for wet AMD.
International Pharmaceutical Regulatory Monitor