Study Finds No Difference Between Avastin and Lucentis in Treatment of AMD
October 8, 2010
Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and the VA Boston Healthcare System recently announced the results of a study that failed to show a difference in efficacy between Bevacizumab (Avastin) and Ranibizumab (Lucentis) for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The study, which appears currently on-line in Eye, is believed to be the first study to describe one-year outcomes of a prospective, double-masked, randomized clinical trial directly comparing Avastin and Lucentis. Last October, these same researchers published early, six month outcomes of the same study, which also failed to show a difference in efficacy between these two drugs for treating AMD.
Read the full press release here.
For interested readers, Irv Arons is keeping track of the results of Avastin vs. Lucentis studies on his blog.
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2 Responses to “Study Finds No Difference Between Avastin and Lucentis in Treatment of AMD”
thank you so much for sharing your story. it is inspiring both to doctors and patients. we ophthalmologists feel blessed and lucky we live in an age where we can do so much for people’s sight. vision truly is precious and should not be taken for granted.
Last November, the dry macular degeneration that I knew I had for ten yrs. went into wet MD in one eye. Before seeing an Ophthalmologist in December, the other eye also changed from dry to wet. This left me nearly sightless. I was unable to do for myself. Upon visiting a local Ophthalmologist, I was referred to a Retina Specialist in Columbus, OH. The next day he injected Avastin in the better eye, the one without scarring and old blood accumulation. The next week I returned for an injection in the scarred eye. I’ve gone now for six injections of Avastin, six weeks apart, and I can use the better eye once again to read with magnifying glasses, do the computer with a few changes in the print and color, drive in town, and cook. The eye with scarring will be of no benefit to me, but I feel so blessed to have been referred to one who offers this treatment and want to say without hesitation that I would do it again in a heartbeat and hope others with my problem will pursue this procedure. I am 79 yrs. old, but never really stopped long enough to think about age as I have no other health problems, take no meds, except eye drops and Ocuvite. I had driven out of town or out of state for many years, gone wherever I chose, wintered in FL, visited Grandchildren out of town without a second thought. I would like to tell everyone to please visit your Ophthalmologist or eye specialist as often as is prescribed, because when your vision is compromised, your life changes so drastically, you are at the mercy of others, believe me. I now have a second chance, and am as grateful as anyone alive, thanks to Avastin and to those who made it possible for me.
