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As everyone has probably seen, the NYTimes, WaPo, WSJ, HuffPo, etc are running articles on Medicare billing data being released. Most of them are citing ophthalmologists prescribing Lucentis (Ranibizumab) and many of them are hounding on the fact that Avastin (Bevacizumab) has similar outcomes to Lucentis in multiple studies but is still prescribed by some ophthalmologists.
I figured there might be more to this story. My understanding from previous reading is that Avastin is not FDA approved for "wet" macular degeneration and would therefore have to be prescribed and administered off-label. Both are VEGF inhibitors, correct?
Anyway, as a medical student, I wanted the story from people actually having to make these decisions. My guess is that there is some fear of liability if Avastin was used off-label. Is this correct or are there other medically-related concerns that are being entirely skipped over by the media? Do any of you see a functional difference between the two drugs? Do any of you agree with the characterizations being put out by major media?
For background: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/09/b...get-big-share-of-payouts.html?hpw&rref=health
I figured there might be more to this story. My understanding from previous reading is that Avastin is not FDA approved for "wet" macular degeneration and would therefore have to be prescribed and administered off-label. Both are VEGF inhibitors, correct?
Anyway, as a medical student, I wanted the story from people actually having to make these decisions. My guess is that there is some fear of liability if Avastin was used off-label. Is this correct or are there other medically-related concerns that are being entirely skipped over by the media? Do any of you see a functional difference between the two drugs? Do any of you agree with the characterizations being put out by major media?
For background: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/09/b...get-big-share-of-payouts.html?hpw&rref=health