Avastin now available from Pharmacy Innovations 

Avastin (Bevacizumab) is an anti-angiogenesis agent that was approved in 2004 to treat colon cancer. It works by causing a decrease in the production of blood vessels that feed tumors. Many opthalmologists are now using Avastin to treat wet macular degeneration (AMD) as it is also is thought to stop fluid from leaking out of the blood vessels into the macula of patients suffering from AMD. Currently, improvement in vision may occur within the first week of therapy.

Below is an excerpt from one of the studies that have been done on Avastin:
Intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.Avery RL, Pieramici DJ, Rabena MD, Castellarin AA, Nasir MA, Giust MJ.
California Retina Consultants, Santa Barbara, California 93103, USA.
PMID: 16458968 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

PURPOSE: To report the short-term safety, biologic effect, and a possible mechanism of action of intravitreal bevacizumab in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
CONCLUSIONS: Short-term results suggest that intravitreal bevacizumab (1.25 mg) is well tolerated and associated with improvement in VA, decreased retinal thickness by OCT, and reduction in angiographic leakage in most patients, the majority of whom had previous treatment with photodynamic therapy and/or pegaptanib. Further evaluation of intravitreal bevacizumab for the treatment of choroidal neovascularization is warranted.

Source of information: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=16458968

Other links for Avastin information:

www.avastin.com 

www.drugs.com/avastin.html

Pharmacy Innovations has been named a preferred supplier of Avastin by Genetech, the manufacturer of Avastin. Prefilled, sterile syringes of bevacizumab for opthalmic use are available for (refrigerated) delivery.

Genentech also has several other medications available through Pharmacy Innovations.

Please call Pharmacy Innovations for more information on prescribing Avastin.