
Off-label AMD therapies
What are doctors using off-label to treat their AMD patients?
Avastin (
Avastin (bevacizumab) is a recombitant humanized, full-length, anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody that binds all isoforms of VEGF-A. Although it is currently only approved for the treatment of colorectal and lung cancer, it is being widely used, off-label, for treatin wet AMD.
In May 2007, the Italian Pharmaceutical Agency (AIFA) announced the reimbursement of Avastin for the treatment of exudative maculopathy and neovascular glaucoma. As such, the agent, which has not been approved for this indication, would be fully reimbursed for use in Italian patients.
The manufacturers of Avastin, Genentech, are now trying to prevent the drug being used off-label in the US by restricting sales to independent compounding pharmacies, which divide vials of the drug into smaller portions for use by ophthalmologists. This decision has caused uproar among US retina specialists.
Newsletter
Get the essential updates shaping the future of pharma manufacturing and compliance—subscribe today to Pharmaceutical Technology and never miss a breakthrough.















































