International AMD Organization Urges Changes to Avastin® Use for wet AMD
Oct 21, 2011 - AMD Alliance International (AMDAI) is calling for ophthalmologists to stop using Avastin® to treat people with wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Avastin is a cancer drug which is frequently repackaged into smaller doses and injected into the eye to control bleeding associated with wet AMD.
In recent months, cases of serious eye infections due to Avastin treatments have been reported, particularly in the USA. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a formal warning to doctors in August about the Avastin’s risk for infection. Because Avastin is not formally approved for use in treating eye disease, tracking of infections is inconsistent, but a 2009 special report written by Dr. Alan Berger and Dr. Sanjay Sharma at the University of Toronto demonstrates that infections are also occurring in Canada.
"AMDAI always advocates that evidence-based medicine and patient safety should set the preferred treatment protocol for wet AMD, not cost,” said Narinder Sharma, CEO of AMDAI. “In this case, the approved treatment based on safety and efficacy data is Lucentis®. Unfortunately, we have effectively traded patient safety for money. That is just not acceptable."
Canadian ophthalmologist Dr. Alan Cruess, who chairs the AMDAI’s Scientific Advisory Panel concurs. “AMD is a debilitating disease and without treatment can lead to blindness. Patients diagnosed with AMD are going through a lot of confusion and uncertainty. They need access to safe and effective medicines and shouldn’t have to worry about sacrificing safety when it comes to treatment.” Dr. Cruess is the Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He will be speaking at the FFB’s Vision Quest conference this weekend in Halifax.
AMDAI is an international coalition of organizations working to bring knowledge, help and hope to individuals and families around the world affected by AMD. Canadian members of AMDAI include the Foundation Fighting Blindness, the CNIB, the Canadian Ophthalmological Society, the Canadian Association of Optometrists and the National Coalition on Vision Health.