FDA issues Avastin warning

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a fresh warning on the use of repackaged bevacizumab (Avastin) after it found that the practice led to cases of serious eye infections while being used to treat age-related macular degeneration.

Nearly 20 cases, all in the Florida and Miami areas were traced back to a single pharmacy in Hollywood, Florida. The pharmacy had repackaged the Avastin from sterile 100mg/4ml single vials, into individual, 1ml single use syringes. It was found to have distributed the vials to multiple eye clinics in the state. While all patients had visual deficits prior to the injections, some lost all remaining vision due to endophthalmitis.