Study finds little difference between AMD drugs

A major study looking at the effectiveness of two anti-VEGF drugs used in the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration has reported that after two years there is little difference between them.

The two-year results of the IVAN study published in this month’s Lancet Journal suggested Ranibizumab, more commonly known by the trade name Lucentis, and bevacizumab, also known as Avastin, have similar efficacy.

A reduction in the frequency of retreatment, a measure that might represent significant cost savings, resulted in a small loss of efficacy irrespective of drug during the study. The findings suggested that the cheaper drug, Avastin, currently not licensed for use in AMD treatment, might be a viable alternative to Lucentis which is.