Eye Injections Could Save Sight
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Contributed by Lisa Olen| 05 October, 2006 02:16 GMT
People with the wet form of macular degeneration, the No. 1 cause of blindness in the elderly, may have access to a new treatment that will save their sight, according to research published in the
New England Journal of Medicine.
Lucentis (ranibizumab), developed by
Genentech, slowed vision loss and even improved sight in some patients who received monthly injections.
However, at $1,950 per treatment, the price of the drug has raised an outcry -- particularly since there may be an equally effective alternative that would only cost $17 to $50 per shot.
The cheaper option is the colon cancer drug Avastin (bevacizumab), also made by Genentech. Ophthalmologists say that it works in the same way, is just as safe and effective, and might even require less frequent injections. |
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