Genentech reports Lucentis, Avastin AE rates in AMD

An analysis of Medicare claims data from 2005-09 for 77,886 patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University and colleagues showed that use of off-label intravitreal Avastin bevacizumab led to an 11% increased risk of overall mortality and a 57% increased risk of hemorrhagic cerebrovascular accident vs. Lucentis ranibizumab. Patients receiving Avastin were 19% less likely to have newly diagnosed ocular hypertension/glaucoma vs. Lucentis, but were 80% and 11% more likely to have ocular inflammation and cataract surgery following AMD treatment, respectively, vs. Lucentis. There were no significant differences in the risk of myocardial infarction or ischemic cerebrovascular accident between treatment groups. Data will be presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting in Fort Lauderdale in May.

The authors said the data suggest differences in the safety profiles of the drugs; however, they said the study was "limited by incomplete information on some important confounding factors e.g., smoking, lipid and blood pressure levels, which would further clarify the relative safety of these treatments in wet AMD." ...