Avastin more effective for diabetic macular edema

A recent study did a comparison of the three top drugs used to treat diabetic macular edema. Researchers took a look at Avastin, Eylea and Lucentis and while all three drugs were equally effective in improving vision in patients who had slight vision impairment, Eylea was found to be more effective in treating patients with "moderate" vision loss. Six hundred and sixty people were involved in the comparison study and participants averaged 61 years of age and all had diabetic macular edema and either had type 1 or type 2 diabetes for an average of 17 years. Each participant was randomly assigned to be treated with one of the drugs and then had their vision evaluated a year later. Those patients who had vision of 20/50 or worse at the start of the study and had been given Eylea showed greater vision improvement than those who had been given Avastin or Lucentis. These study results will enable doctors to evaluate the best course of therapy for their patients. Doctors will also need to consider the financial impact on the patient as well since Eylea is significantly more costly than its counterparts at $1,900 per injection compared to $1,200 for Lucentis and $70 for Avastin.*