Cochrane Collaboration report discounts safety issues of Avastin for Macular Degeneration- Novartis + Roche

Cochrane Collaboration researchers looked at the results of studies which compared the safety of two drugs used for treating age-related Macular Degeneration, ranibizumab (Lucentis) and bevacizumab (Avastin). Contrary to what was argued by some experts, the review has found that the cheaper drug, Avastin, does not appear to increase deaths or serious side effects compared with ranibizumab in people with neovascular age-related Macular Degeneration.

The authors conclude that health policies that favour the much more costly Lucentis instead of Avastin for Macular Degeneration, for reasons of safety, are not supported by current randomised controlled trial evidence. A larger Cochrane Review, which will assess additional sources of evidence, is now planned to help reduce the remaining uncertainties around the relative benefits and safety of these drugs.

Avastin is currently only approved as a cancer therapy.