Does anyone know the difference between th... - Macular Society
Does anyone know the difference between the veg-f drugs LUCENTIS and AVASTIN ?
Difference in what regards? The most important difference at the moment, I would have thought, is that Lucentis is licensed for use in treatment for wet macular degeneration whilst Avastin isn't - it can only be used 'off-label'.
The two drugs work to the same end, the retardation of neovascularisation, but Avastin is administered in much smaller doses and has a much larger systemic half life (20 days compared to just 2 days for Lucentis - end result being that it is a much cheaper treatment. In US dollar terms, as the research I have seen has been American, Avantis has been reported as costing $40 a dose compared to $1500 per dose of Lucentis.
Dear Tallyho,
That is a good question you ask. There's a great deal riding on your question. People's jobs, reputations, bonuses, shareholder expectations. I'd say your question is in the same ball park as questions like:
"Does global warming exist?"
"Who would make the better President?"
So it's one of those questions with a lot of vested interest and as such you'll get different, carefully nuanced, answers from different people and organizations.
I'd be happy to have either Avastin or Lucentis. If I was paying, I'd choose Avastin. But who am I to say?
Best of luck.
Geoff
I have had 9 lucentis injections over the past 12 months as a result of central retinal vein occlusion I suffered a year ago. I was told that lucentis was better as it clears the eye much quicker than avastin and so the chances of problems later on are diminished - but its very marginal. My research seemed to bear this out and the lucentis has worked very well but its temporary. I know people who have had avastin who also say it works well
I am now awaiting an ozurdex implant which I am told will be as good and will last between 4 and 6 months
so many thanks for the replies. the reason for the question is that I have refractory macular oedema and have had 10 injections of avastin in my left eye and 5 in my right as well as laser treatment but for me this treatment has not worked at all. infact i am far worse off now than i was before I started avastin. My hospital is trying to get the funding for Lucentis for me as I am a steroid responder so for me ozurdex is not an option. i have heard too that avastin and lucentis are bascically the same thing apart from the price !!!! but there is now negotiation on this.to make it more accessible on the NHS. I am just wondering why for some where avastin has not worked Lucentis does and if there is a chemical difference in their make up so some people respond better to lucentis than avastin.
Having lost my job due to poor vision I just want a treatment that will work as we all do.
Thanks again for the replies and any others would be gratefully recieved.
Interesting reading. My understanding of the situation regarding the price of Lucentis is that the NHS fund the first 14 injections and after that the company supply the drug free of charge. I have only had Lucentis injections (22) which have enabled me to see as well as I could before wet amd started so feel very lucky.
Hi Cruising for that . As i have diabetes (type 1) i am not entitled to have lucentis on the NHS even though no other treatment seems to have been very effective. My consultant says there is perhaps a hope that lucentis might work if I have the opportunity to have it in the future. on the NHS.
No difference, just different dosage
