In Face-off Between Avastin and Lucentis, Patients Might Stand to Lose Most

The drug Avastin has proved just as effective as Lucentis at improving visual acuity lost as a result of age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, according to a widely reported study published April 28 in the New England Journal of Medicine. Why such big news? Because of the big price difference: Aventis costs $50 per dose vs. $2,000 for Lucentis. Both are injections administered monthly.

The two drugs have a similar chemical makeup and are both manufactured by Genentech. Here in the U.S., Avastin already is the most commonly used drug for AMD, although its FDA-approved indication is for cancer treatment.

Doctors who use Avastin for AMD must get a pharmacist to prepare lower doses for the eye injection, which brings its actual cost per dose to about $400 as opposed to $50.

Patients tend to win when there is more than one effective option for treating a condition, except when there is this much money at stake. Insurers may disallow reimbursement for Lucentis, and the government could refuse to cover its cost for Medicare patients. That’s unfortunate for the subgroup of patients who actually do respond better to Lucentis, which typically forms a stronger bond than Avastin when injected into the eye. So though Lucentis comes across as a “bad value” overall, it is anything but when you consider there are individuals for whom it’s demonstrably superior. By and large, physicians already show a preference for prescribing Avastin, but Lucentis should not be taken off the table as a treatment option.

Every medical case is different, and you and your doctor should work together to determine what is best for you. Having the ability to choose your doctor and your treatment is very important.

Dr. Jeff Pinkerton
I care for you.

Have you used Avastin or Lucentis? Do you swear by one or the other? Leave us a reply.