A head-to-head comparison of 2 widely used drugs for macular edema due to central retinal vein occlusion—bevacizumab (Avastin) and aflibercept (Eylea)—found that both improved visual acuity (VA) similarly. But Eylea does it for $1,850 per dose, versus $60 per dose for Avastin.
In the Study of COmparative Treatments for REtinal Vein Occlusion 2 (SCORE2), National Eye Institute (NEI) researchers randomly assigned 362 patients to either Eylea or Avastin by eye injection every 4 weeks for 6 months. At 6 months, the researchers assessed VA, retinal thickness, and side effects.
On average, VA improved about 4 lines on an eye chart, from 20/100 to 20/40, more than doubling the ability to resolve fine detail, said Frederick Ferris, MD, director of the Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications at NEI. “For some patients it restores their ability to drive.”
Both drugs prevent the release of vascular endothelial growth factor, which causes swelling. The researchers found that macular edema declined significantly in both groups. The rates of adverse events, such as elevated intraocular pressure, were low and similar in both groups.
Retinal vein occlusion is associated with diabetes mellitus and hypertension. It is the second most common retinal vascular disease after diabetic retinopathy, according to NIH, and affects more than 16 million adults worldwide.