Finally, a small study reveals………..no difference between Avastin® (bevacizumab) or Lucentis® (ranibizumab) when used to treat age related macular degeneration.

Twenty patients were randomized to either Avastin or Lucentis treatment for wet ARMD.  The study lasted 6 months.  All patients received 3 injections spaced one month apart.  Additional injections were delivered based upon OCT changes.

In both groups, there was an improvement in vision and a decrease (as measured with OCT) in macular thickness at 6 months.  While the bevacizumab group required, on average, slightly more injections than the ranibizumab group, the number was not statistically significant.

What Does This Mean? This study involved on 20 patients, hardly enough to change practice patterns, but does carry some significance.  It does validate a trend that we have seen in our neck of the woods, in that, most retina specialists use Avastin/bevacizumab as their first line of treatment.

I know, we’ll wait for the hard data.

The full article; AJO. 2009;148(6):875-882.

Randall V. Wong, M.D.
Retina Specialist
Retinal Specialist in Fairfax Virginia ^[1]