NICE recommends new treatment for wet AMD

A new treatment option for patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is set to become available on the NHS in England.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued final draft guidance approving Lytenava (bevacizumab gamma), the first licensed version of Avastin (bevacizumab) for wet AMD.

Originally developed to treat cancer, this adapted form of Avastin will become the fifth licenced anti-VEGF drug available to treat wet AMD in the UK. The other four licenced drugs are: Eylea (Aflibercept), Lucentis (Ranibizumab), Beovu (Brolucizumab) and Vabysomo (Faricimab). Avastin (Bevacizumab) remains unlicenced in the UK as an ‘off-label’ drug.

What are the benefits of Lytenava (bevacizumab gamma) to treat wet AMD?

Bevacizumab gamma has been recommended because it provides similar health benefits to two other treatments, aflibercept and ranibizumab, which are already approved by NICE for wet AMD. Its cost is also similar to aflibercept.

NHS England has agreed to fund this treatment starting 30 days after the final guidance is published.

According to NICE, clinical trials show that more people treated with bevacizumab gamma improve their vision by at least 15 letters on a vision test, compared to those treated with ranibizumab. Comparisons with other treatments, such as ranibizumab, aflibercept, and faricimab, suggest that bevacizumab gamma is similarly effective. Its cost is also comparable to aflibercept.

"Important to provide choice for patients"

Dr Peter Bloomfield, director of research at the Macular Society, said: "We are pleased to see another option for wet AMD available on the NHS. It is important to provide choice for patients and having a version of bevacizumab for use in the eye is welcome news."

The company behind Lytenava, Outlook Therapeutics, says it also hopes to manufacture the drug as a potential treatment for diabetic macular oedema (DMO) and Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion (BRVO).