The Prescribing Clinical Network recommends bevacizumab 1.25mg intravitreal injection as a cost-effective treatment option, alongside ranibizumab or aflibercept, for patients with Wet Age Related macular Degeneration (wet AMD).
Bevacizumab can be offered after discussion of treatment options with individual patients meeting NICE criteria for ranibizumab or aflibercept.
Bevacizumab can also be offered to individuals, after discussion of treatment options, for those patients with visual acuity outside of NICE
Following the publication of new trial data the APC were asked to consider whether the new evidence is sufficient to recommend bevacizumab as a suitable alternative treatment option to ranibizumab for the management of wet AMD on the grounds of clinical and cost effectiveness.It was noted that, although unlicensed in wetAMD, Bevacizumab is already being used widely in ophthalmology for other indications where ranibizumab is not NICE approved and/or licensed and is used extensively in wet AMD in the private sector / America and other countries in Europe. The committee agreed that the evidence is sufficient to recommend bevacizumab 1.25mg intravitreal injection as a cost effective treatment option for age related macular degeneration. Acute trusts to consider this via their DTCs followed by their Boards/Executive Boards as appropriate
