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Biotech / Medical : PSDV - pSivida Limited

PSDV 1.220

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Mar 29 5:00 PM EST

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From: John McCarthy	5/5/2010 10:30:50 AM
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NHS investigating cheaper eye medication National Institute of Health and Clinic Excellence has been asked to take the unusual step of considering an unlicensed medication – bevacizumab – to replace ranibizumab By Tim Locke WebMD Health News Reviewed by Dr Paola Accalai 4th May 2010 - The NHS is looking at using an unlicensed medication for wet age-related macular degeneration to save money. The current treatment - ranibizumab - costs around £10,000 per patient, so the Department of Health has asked the regulator, the National Institute of Health and Clinic Excellence (NICE), to look at a bowel cancer treatment - bevacizumab - instead. The Department of Health has also asked the NHS Health Technology Assessment programme to commission work to identify the existing and expected evidence on the use of bevacizumab in the eye. Wet age-related macular degeneration Wet age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in the UK. The condition is caused by abnormal growth of blood vessels around the eye and can be treated by stopping the growth of a natural protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Off-label Although NICE doesn’t normally assess medications outside of their licensed indications - called ‘off-label’ prescribing - it can do so if asked by the Department of Health. Bevacizumab works by stopping tumour growth by blocking the formation of new blood vessels, targeting and inhibiting the function of VEGF that stimulates new blood vessel formation. It is already being used as a treatment for eye conditions by some NHS trusts as an alternative to ranibizumab, which is licensed for the condition and which NICE recommended for use in 2008. Two clinical trials comparing the use of the drug against the current treatment, ranibizumab, are expected to report in late 2011 and early 2012. Reaction Cathy Yelf, of the Macular Disease Society, told us: "We welcome the move by NICE. We understand why this is seen as an exceptional case. Avastin [bevacizumab] is already being used in some private treatment and around the world. “ She says there may be some benefits from bevacizumab, including patients needing fewer injections. "But we want to see results from trials currently going to report into whether Avastin [bevacizumab] is safe and effective before a decision is taken." webmd.boots.com

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