Roche in trouble as more cases in Florida and Tennessee link Avastin to Eye Infection

Roche in trouble as reports of eye infection due to use of Avastin are surfacing in Florida and Tennessee. Avastin was originally manufactured by Genentech. Later Roche acquired it and now facing controversies related to Avastin.

Avastin is an injectable medicine. It slows down the growth and spread of cancerous cells in the body. It is used for treatment of various types of cancers such as kidney cancer, colon cancer, rectum cancer, lung cancer and breast cancer. It is also used for treatment of a particular type of brain tumor. Doctors prescribe it for other purposes as well, which are not listed in medicine guide of this drug.

Avastin was approved in 2004 by U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treatment of colon cancer. Later it FDA approved it for treatment of lung cancer in 2006. FDA approved it for treatment of metastatic breast cancer in 2008. It was also approved by FDA for treatment of kidney cancer and brain tumors known as glioblastoma in 2009. It was prescribed for treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) after a government-sponsored study found that it was effective in treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It was used widely as it was a cheap alte
ative of Lucentis for treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Around 12 reports of eye infections due to use of Avastin were reported. FDA issued a safety alert after these cases were reported in Florida. Some patients were even blinded. The Tennessee Valley Healthcare System reported four such cases too. It was due to use of repackaged Avastin. The Avastin was repackaged for treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It is an off-label use of the drug.

Reports stated that patients had developed Streptococcus endophthalmitis infections after using Avastin for treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Some of them were fully blinded. One man also suffered brain damage along with loss of eyesight as infection spread to his brain. He filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the Department of Veteran Affairs. There are reports of many such cases and lawsuits are being filed.

Department of Veteran Affairs had suspended this drug for treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) after many such cases were reported. Reports of these infections in patients due to use of Avastin for treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) led Department of Veteran Affairs to launch an investigation in this regard.

A recent study by Johns Hopkins University researchers also concluded that use of Avastin increases risk of eye infections. The study revealed that patients treated with Avastin for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are at 11% more risk of death and 57% more risk of suffering a stroke compared to patients treated with Lucentis, other drug for AMD. Earlier Avastin suffered cancellation of approval by U.S. Food and drug Administration for treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Avastin is one of the most popular drugs for treatment of cancer. These reports of Avastin’s association with eye infections are expected to have a negative impact on its sales proceeds.