Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody that is an exact replica of a single parent cell. This is most commonly known as Avastin and it has recently been approved by FDA for the treatment of cancer in some patients.
It has always been known that a solid tumor needs to be supplied with newer blood vessels in order to survive and increase it size. Avastin functions by blocking the growth of brand new blood vessels that can and might eventually develop into cancer cells.
It contains an angiostatic agent that prevents the growth of new blood vessels that have the potential to create tumor cells. It is transferred to the body intravenously and can be given every 14 days in combination with other drugs like the 50-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy.
It was developed by Genentech and is distributed with this name in the United States and under the company name Roche, outside the US.
In 2004, it was only approved as treatment for small cell lung cancer and metastatic colon cancer.
In 2008, it was allowed for use in patients suffering from breast cancer. And since then, more clinical trials have been conducted to determine its effectiveness in eradicating the non-metastatic forms of cancer as well as other metastatic cancers like metastatic breast cancer, metastatic ovarian cancer, metastatic renal cell carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, and metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer.
Because of this, Avastin is now being used off-label, as treatment for wet Macular degeneration by many eye specialists.
Wet Macular degeneration is an age-related Macular degeneration (AMD) that causes blindness due to the growth of new blood vessels behind the retina of the eye. These blood vessels, choriocapillaries, grow through the Bruch’s membrane and have the potential to burst and leak into the eye. This condition, compared to the dry one is more severe as it progresses rather rapidly and is often irreversible especially in the most advanced cases.
Studies have proven the effectiveness of Avastin in the treatment of AMD and patients who have undergone drug treatment, testify to have experienced an improvement in their eyesight in as short as one week.
Ask a specialist to know the proper dosage, as the required dose for AMD is often smaller compared to other conditions. An eye specialist can specifically give instructions to the pharmacist so as not be confused.
