PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 653 - 12 May 2012

Novartis unhappy overbevacizumab decision

Novartis has taken legal action against a primary caretrust cluster’s* decision to fund bevacizumab [Avastin]for the treatment of wet age-related macular oedema inthe UK.

In September 2011, the trust agreed to fund theunlicensed bevacizumab (licenced for cancer at a cost of£50–£100 per dose) for NHS ophthalmologists ratherthan use the "considerably more expensive" licensedranibizumab [Lucentis] which costs £890 per dose. Thecluster estimated the switch could save £5 million perannum and this decision would see Novartis losemillions of pounds. Novartis argues that ranibizumab "issafer", as there is emerging evidence of safety concernsover bevacizumab in eye disorders.

The judicial review will investigate whether the clusterfollowed the correct procedures in allowing the use ofbevacizumab, but the decision is not expected for atleast 6 months.* Southampton, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Portsmouth

Torjesen I. Novartis takes legal action over trusts’ advice to use bevacizumab forwet AMD. BMJ : [2 pages], 24 Apr 2012. Available from: URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2959 803069837

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PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 12 May 2012 No. 6531173-5503/10/0653-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved