There is little to no difference in terms of effectiveness and safety between anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) medications and biosimilars used to treat neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), researchers from the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine said in a new Cochrane Eyes and Vision systematic review.
Biosimilars, nearly identical versions of complex biologic drugs made from living cells, often come at a fraction of the price as original medications, making them a cost-effective option for patients who rely on the eye injections to improve visual acuity and prevent vision loss caused by nAMD, which affects an estimated 196 million people worldwide.
“There is a huge market for biosimilars because there is a growing population of people who are affected by AMD,” said Tianjing Li, M.D, Ph.D., associate professor of ophthalmology and director for the Cochrane Eyes and Vision U.S. Project hosted at the Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center. “Knowing that biosimilars are just as safe and effective can help clinicians around the world make informed decisions and feel comfortable with using a more cost-effective treatment for patients who might not be able to afford the original anti-VEGF medicines.”