Ophthalmology

Intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (Avastin) has revolutionized the treatment of diabetic eye disease, and has emerged as an important treatment modality, either as primary or adjuvant therapy for diabetic macular edema and proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Momenta Pharmaceuticals and Mylan have announced that they will begin a pivotal clinical trial of their jointly developed M710, a proposed biosimilar of the anti–vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy aflibercept, referenced on Eylea.

A recent study examined whether the use of the anti–tumor necrosis factor agent infliximab could reduce the death of photoreceptors after retinal detachment in an experimental mouse model.

Lucentis (ranibizumab) faces oncoming competition from 4 companies that are developing proposed biosimilars.

German drug maker Formycon released its third quarter financial results on Monday, and reported that it plans to launch its biosimilar ranibizumab candidate, FYB201, in the United States in 2020.

Current regulations discourage the use of the more cost-effective bevacizumab and lead to unequal patient access to higher-cost ranibizumab and aflibercept.

Roche’s sales of ranibizumab (Lucentis), already depleted by competition from such products as afilbercept (Eylea), face upcoming erosion from biosimilar competition.