Novartis’ Lucentis data welcomed by experts

Recent research publicising the benefits of treatment with Lucentis, the Novartis treatment for “wet” age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has been welcomed by experts.

Described by the company as “pivotal”, the two phase III trials published in the New England Journal of Medicine demonstrated Lucentis’ ability to improve the vision of patients with wet AMD, a disease characterised by the abnormal formation of blood vessels behind the retina, which are prone to leaking and impairing vision in the process.

The studies showed that Lucentis could maintain vision in 90 per cent of patients with wet AMD, while up to 40 per cent reported an improvement.

Victor Chong, a consultant eye surgeon, told Channel 4 News that the drug is expensive but that the benefits outweigh the costs.

“How can you put a cost on the suffering of blindness? I think that this drug should be available in the National Health Service as soon as possible,” he added.

Pfizer recently launched Macugen in the UK, another treatment for wet AMD, which accounts for approximately 15 per cent of all AMD cases, although causes the most blindness.