Source: PLoS One
Area: News
The authors of this paper carried out a systematic review based on randomised controlled clinical trials (RCTs) to assess whether unlicensed therapy with bevacizumab is as safe as licensed therapy with ranibizumab for the treatment of age related macular degeneration (AMD), and whether bevacizumab can be justifiably offered to patients with AMD as a medication with no additional risk. The authors also evaluated whether adverse effects (AEs) are dose-related.
Data for the review were sourced from various databases (Embase, Medline, and Cochrane Library) and phase 3/4 RCTs with at least a follow up period of 1 year were included. The trials investigated bevacizumab or ranibizumab in direct comparison (head-to-head) or against any other control group (indirect comparison). The inclusion criteria were met by 11 RCTs. The following results are reported:
Direct comparison (3 trials, 1333 patients):
. The one year data show a ...