NHS call for cheaper Macular Degeneration drug use

The NHS is pushing for a drug used to treat bowel cancer to be licenced as a more cost effective cure for wet form Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD).  In America and around the world, the drug, Avastin (bevacizumab), is increasingly used by injecting tiny doses into the eye to prevent blindness from the most common cause of blindness in the UK.

The current drug used by the NHS, Lucentis, is derived from Avastin and costs to the NHS have been a lot higher than anticipated, due to the large number of cases of AMD.  A full course of treatment with Lucentis can cost as much as 100 times more than that of Avastin.  Drug manufacturers Genentech are resisting the clinical trials and licencing for Avastin to be used for the treatment of AMD.  Genentech also produces Lucentis.

The Department of Health has asked NICE (the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence), which assessed Lucentis for cost effectiveness, to consider assessing Avastin for the use on eyes despite normally only only assessing licenced drugs.  This is a departure from normal prodeedures and could be seen as a comment on the drug industry which is often criticised for it's high prices.

Read the full story from The Guardian by click here.