An inexpensive anti-cancer drug has proven to be as effective as a more costly medication in treating the most common cause of blindness in older adults.
 

A new 2-year study, led by researchers at Queen University Belfast, showed Lucentis and Avastin are equally effective in treating wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), even though Lucentis costs more than 10 times as much as the cheaper drug.
 

"The [study] results at the end of year two show that Lucentis and Avastin have similar functional effectiveness regardless of the drug received," said Queen University scientist Usha Chakravarthy, who led the study published in The Lancet. "With respect to monthly versus as needed treatment, while there was marginally better eyesight in the former [Lucentis], the development of atrophy is a matter of concern in the longer term."
 

Wet AMD is a common cause of sight loss in older people. Without treatment two thirds of people with the condition will suffer severe loss of sight within two years of being diagnosed.
 

The new findings are based on an analysis of 600 people with wet AMD who were tracked over a 2-year period by a team of scientists and eye specialists from 23 hospitals and U.K. universities, including Queen's University Belfast, to determine whether Lucentis and Avastin are equally effective, and safe.