Introduction
For the past several years, since I have been writing this blog, I have been following, first the unpublished results of Avastin used off-label to treat wet AMD, and then the controversy that formed once Lucentis was approved by the FDA. The following is a commentary of the battle between ophthalmologists and industry over which drug should be used to treat wet AMD – which hopefully will be solved by the ongoing CATT Study.
Avastin: A New Hope for Treating AMD (January 2006)
This, as yet unpublished report, will be a contemporary look at the brand new potential drug treatment for AMD, based on the latest clinical results – and reports from analysts that follow the field.
http://irvaronsjournal.blogspot.com/2006/01/avastin-new-hope-for-treating-amd.html
Avastin Update: Medicare not Likely to Cover its Use (March 2006)
Following posting of the original article – Avastin: A New Hope for Treating AMD, I found an online article that clarifies the Medicare position on “off-label” usage of this drug.
http://irvaronsjournal.blogspot.com/2006/03/avastin-update-medicare-not-likely-to.html
Avistin Update II: AAO supports Medicare Coverage for Off-label Avistan Use (April 2006)
As reported by the OSN Supersite, the Academy of Ophthalmology plans to support the push to have Medicare pay for the off-label use of Avastin in treating AMD.
http://irvaronsjournal.blogspot.com/2006/04/avastin-update-ll-aao-supports.html
ARVO 2006: A Further Update on Both Avastin and Lucentis for Treating AMD (May 2006)
Michael Lachman of Lachman Consulting LLC released his latest EyeQ Report, covering developments on both Lucentis and Avastin from the 2006 ARVO meeting held in Sarasota, FL. The report contains the two-year results on the Lucentis MARINA Study and the latest data on the use of intravitreal Avastin.
http://irvaronsjournal.blogspot.com/2006/05/arvo-2006-further-update-on-both.html
Avastin/Lucentis Update 4: FDA Approves Lucentis for Treating Wet AMD (July 2006)
On June 30th, the FDA approved Lucentis for treating wet AMD.
http://irvaronsjournal.blogspot.com/2006/07/avastinlucentis-update-4-fda-approves.html
Avastin Update 5: NIH Considers Comparing Lucentis and Avastin (August 2006)
I first learned about the possibility of an NIH-sponsored head-to-head test of Lucentis vs. Avastin in early August, in a report published in that month’s issue of Dave Harmon’s Ophthalmic Market Perspectives.
http://irvaronsjournal.blogspot.com/2006/08/avastin-update-5-nih-considers-trial.html
Avastin/Lucentis Update 6: Latest Results Published in NEJM and Another Call for a Trial Between Them (October 2006)
Finally, in early October, the NEJM published the latest clinical results of both Avastin and Lucentis, and an editorial calling for a direct clinical trial between the two drugs.
http://irvaronsjournal.blogspot.com/2006/10/avastinlucentis-update-6-latest.html
Avastin/Lucentis Update 7: BREAKING NEWS – NEI/NIH Will Fund Comparative Study (October 2006)
This was followed by an announcement from the NIH/NEI that the agencies would fund a clinical trial comparing the two drugs.
http://irvaronsjournal.blogspot.com/2006/10/avastinlucentis-update-7-breaking-news.html
Avastin/Lucentis Update 8: A Report of the Latest News from the 2006 AAO Meeting (November 2006)
Michael Lachman’s EyeQ Report No. 9 provided complete coverage of the latest clinical results on both Avastin and Lucentis from the Fall AAO meeting.
http://irvaronsjournal.blogspot.com/2006/11/avastinlucentis-update-8-report-of.html
Avastin/Lucentis Update 9: A Disturbing Report about the Upcoming Trial Between Avastin and Lucentis (December 2006)
The first inkling of trouble in the NIH sponsored clinical trial between Avastin and Lucentis was reported by Lynne Peterson in her Executive Laser Report following the Fall AAO meeting. She reported on Dr. William Rich’s comments that some industry elements were trying to stop the head-to-head study.
http://irvaronsjournal.blogspot.com/2006/12/avastinlucentis-update-9-disturbing.html
Avastin/Lucentis Update 10: A Review of the Current Status of These Drugs for Treating AMD (January 2007)
A comprehensive report on the latest clinical results were presented in a supplement to the December issue of Review of Ophthalmology. I was given permission to reproduce parts of it by the publisher.
http://irvaronsjournal.blogspot.com/2007/01/avastinlucentis-update-10-review-of.html
Avastin/Lucentis Update 11: A White Paper on Why Avastin vs Lucentis Matters (February 2007)
A group of retinal specialists, alarmed about the cost to the public health system of the high cost of Lucentis, wrote this White Paper, expressing their views. I was given permission to reproduce their paper.
http://irvaronsjournal.blogspot.com/2007/02/avastinlucentis-update-11-white-paper.html
Avastin/Lucentis Update 12: The Controversy Makes the Front Page of the WSJ (February 2007)
After some prodding on my part (and others), Marilyn Chase of the WSJ took up our cry and published an excellent look at what was going on behind the scenes in the fight to get the NIH study to go forward.
http://irvaronsjournal.blogspot.com/2007/02/avastinlucentis-update-12-controversy.html
Avastin/Lucentis Update 13: Genentech’s Two Headed Monster: Lucentis and Avastin (March 2007)
This article was posted on a website called HealthDot@ ScribeMedia.org. It contained a very interesting fifteen minute interview with Dr. William Rich of the AAO about the controversy.
The article, with a link to the interview, was reproduced with permission of the publisher.
http://irvaronsjournal.blogspot.com/2007/03/avastinlucentis-update-13-genentechs_03.html
Avastin/Lucentis Update 14: Genentech CEO Defends Differential Cost for Avastin/Lucentis Treatment of Macular Degeneration (June 2007)
The commentary reproduced, appeared on June 6, 2007 in the Patent Docs Biotech & Pharma Patent Law & News Blog. It was written by Attorney Kevin E. Noonan. It was reproduced with permission of the author.
http://irvaronsjournal.blogspot.com/2007/06/avastinlucentis-update-14-genentech-ceo.html
Avastin/Lucentis Update 15: The Brits Join in on the Fight (Septermber 2007)
Some background on the NHS’ decision to fund a groundbreaking comparative trial.
http://irvaronsjournal.blogspot.com/2007/09/avastinlucentis-update-15-brits-join-in.html
Avastin/Lucentis Update 16: And Now the Germans Join the Battle (September 2007)
German health insurers decided not to be left behind and have decided to undertake a comparative study as well.
http://irvaronsjournal.blogspot.com/2007/09/avastinlucentis-update-16-and-now.html
Avastin/Lucentis Update 17: The Controversy Heats Up Once Again (October 2007)
This WSJ Blog, by Jacob Goldstein, appeared in mid-October telling the story of Genentech’s decision to restrict Avastin sales to ophthalmologists. It managed to raise the fury of the ophthalmic community.
http://irvaronsjournal.blogspot.com/2007/10/avastinlucentis-update-17-controversy.html
Avastin/Lucentis Update 18: Genentech ...yes, it’s All About the Money (October 2007)
A few days after the WSJ Blog above appeared, David Hamilton, a writer for a venture capital blog, VentureBeat Blog, told the story behind the story – that yes, it was all about the money! With his permission, I reproduced his story.
http://irvaronsjournal.blogspot.com/2007/10/avastinlucentis-update-18-genentech-yes.html
Avastin/Lucentis Update 19: U.S. Senator Seeks Answers About the Cost Differential from Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (October 2007)
Again, Jacob Goldstein, in his WSJ Blog, picked up on the story that Senator Herb Kohl got into the act, questioning the agency running Medicare to “explore the reduction of expenditures on expensive drugs such as Lucentis by using alternative treatments such as Avastin.”
http://irvaronsjournal.blogspot.com/2007/10/avastinlucentis-update-19-us-senator.html
Avastin/Lucentis Update 20: Genentech Rescinds Clampdown on Avastin (October 2007)
Once again, I picked up the information about Genentech giving in from Jacob Goldstein’s WSJ Blog. The new policy was also announced by Genentech and the combined AAO/ASRS Task Force, after meeting with Genentech. (I provided copies of both letters on my Journal.)
http://irvaronsjournal.blogspot.com/2007/10/avastinlucentis-update-20-genentech.html
With that problem solved, I also reported on what Canadian Healthcare was doing about the use of Lucentis or Avastin.
Avastin/Lucentis Update 21: Canadian Healthcare Struggles with Avastin vs. Lucentis Controversy (Janury 2008)
I found a story in the Globe and Mail about the Canadian Health Canada struggling with the decision whether to approve Lucentis or Avastin for the treatment of wet AMD.
http://irvaronsjournal.blogspot.com/2008/01/avastinlucentis-update-21-canadian.html
Avastin/Lucentis Update 22: Recent Avastin Study Compared to Use of Lucentis in PrONTO (March 2008)
And, finally, Dr. James Folk, in his Medical Rounds Blog commented on a recent study about Dr. Bashshur and colleagues treating patients with Avastin using a protocol similar to the use of Lucentis in PrONTO.
http://irvaronsjournal.blogspot.com/2008/03/avastinlucentis-update-22-recent.html
Avastin/Lucentis Update 23: An Interesting Overview of the Controversy (May 2008)
Dr. Greg Rosenthal had an interesting take on the Avastin/Lucentis Genentech controversy, and with his permission, I posted his thoughts.
http://irvaronsjournal.blogspot.com/2008/05/avastinlucentis-update-23-interesting.html
Avastin/Lucentis Update 24: Dispute Between FDA and Genentech (June 2008)
Always alert to gaining clarity on the ongoing controversy, I saw the WSJ Health Blog on the subject, and decided it should be part of my ongoing coverage.
http://irvaronsjournal.blogspot.com/2008/06/avastinlucentis-update-23-dispute.html
