NHS regions back Avastin for eye disease
pharmafile | October 14, 2011 | News story | Sales and Marketing | avastin
Regional NHS authorities around England are approving the use of Avastin instead of Lucentis for ophthalmology patients.
A number of regional health service organisations have given the all clear to use the much cheaper Avastin in patients with for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), despite Avastin not being licensed to treat the eye condition.
The Southampton, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Portsmouth (SHIP) PCT Cluster says its move could help the local health service save £5 million a year.
But the decision is opposed by Novartis, which markets Lucentis in the UK, and with Roche, which markets Avastin, and holds the US rights to Lucentis.
Patients in Hampshire will now be offered a choice of drug treatments for AMD following the PCT Cluster Board approval for the policy.
Ophthalmologists in the region will be able to officially offer their patients the choice of Avastin or Lucentis, even though Avastin is not licensed to treat AMD. At the other end of England, the North East Treatment Advisory Group made a similar decision in July, estimating that it could save £4 million if all patients in need (an estimated 914) were treated with Avastin rather than Lucentis.
Avastin (bevacizumab) is very similar to Lucentis (ranibizumab), but is now frequently used because it can be used much more cheaply than Lucentis to treat AMD.
Hampshire’s SHIP PCT cluster argues that Avastin holds benefits not just for NHS budgets, but for patients too. It says Avastin can achieve the same clinical outcomes for patients as Lucentis, but may also reduce the total number of eye injections needed by some patients, increase the number of patients seen by eye services and potentially save the local NHS £5 million a year.
Overall the newly formed SHIP cluster says the decision could contribute to positive health benefits across the area.
Dr Stuart Ward, medical director for SHIP PCT Cluster, said: “The policy approved by the Board simply gives consultants authority to offer their patients the choice of Avastin which, until now, has not been routinely available on the NHS. Patients will be given clear information about the effectiveness and safety of the alternative drug and will be able to discuss this with their consultant before making their choice.”
The PCT Cluster says the initial feedback from local patients who have received Avastin treatment has been very positive, with the majority saying their vision had improved or stabilised. Most patients had only felt minor discomfort and the majority would recommend the treatment to others.
The Cluster says it is now working with local providers of AMD services to implement the policy. This work includes ensuring clear written leaflets based on information used in trials and on experience elsewhere are provided to patients.
Faced with an apparently unstoppable tide, Novartis UK are understood to be considering a change of tactic. Tim Cave, medical director for the company in the UK, told The Financial Times it was considering reducing the price of Lucentis. He added: “We’re worried that in looking at efficiency people are throwing out the principle of keeping patients safe.”
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