There is no difference in the visual acuity (VA) outcomes after Avastin (bevacizumab) or Lucentis (ranibizumab) treatment for AMD, according to a new study. In 2006, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved the use of Lucentis (ranibizumab) for the treatment of exudative AMD. Before its approval, many ophthalmologists already...

The first major clinical trial to compare bevacizumab and ranibizumab in a head-to-head fashion has completed enrollment, and the first data analysis is expected in about 1 year. Although the head-to-head comparison of Avastin (bevacizumab, Genentech) and Lucentis (ranibizumab, Genentech) in CATT (Comparisons of age-related macular degeneration...

Investigators have shown, at 6 months in a small group of patients, that there is no difference in efficacy between Avastin (bevacizumab) and Lucentis (ranibizumab) for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The study is the first to report early outcomes of a prospective, double-masked, randomized, controlled trial comparing...

Many physicians are awaiting the results of a trial comparing two leading anti-VEGF agents in the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD). But because study results will not be known for several years, they continue to practice with varying therapies, regimens and doses, trying to find an ideal treatment for their...

A comprehensive review of the scientific literature by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) suggests that anti-VEGF pharmacotherapy, delivered by intravitreal injection, is a safe and effective treatment for neovascular AMD for up to 2 years. There is high quality (Level 1) evidence to support this conclusion for Macugen (pegaptanib) and...

A new study finds that Avastin is able to quickly penetrate the retina of monkeys. One of the key motivations Genentech developed Lucentis was that scientists were concerned about how well Avastin, a relatively large molecule, could penetrate the retina. Lucentis, was specifically designed to penetrate the retina rapidly. Clinical...

Ocular Surgery News presents a roundtable discussion with two prominent retinal specialists on the treatment of AMD; David M. Brown, MD, FACS of Houston, Texas and Steven D. Schwartz, MD of the Jules Stein Eye Institute, UCLA. Lucentis is beneficial for the treatment of exudative wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), reducing the number...

A panel of experts discussed controversial issues surrounding the treatment of AMD at the Retina 2008 meeting. Below are excerpts from the transcript published by ONS Supersite. Retina is making history because intravitreal injections are now No. 3 on the list of ophthalmic procedures coded for Medicare reimbursement, following cataract with...