Avastin treatment

Spaide RF, Fisher YL. Intravitreal hevacizumab (Avastin) treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy complicated by vitreous hemorrhage. Retina 2006, 26, 275-278. 

Current limitations in the therapeutic use of MAbs are derived from the fact that they are pathogen-specific and that, for the time being, they require systemic, parenteral, and sometimes chronic application. In addition, antagonistic principles require rather large doses in excess of 1 mg kg body weight and this results in treatment costs of up to US 10000 per patient and therapy. For example, Avastin treatment is priced at US 4400 per month. 

Avastin (tradename, also known as bevacizumab) is a 149 kDa recombinant humanized monoclonal IgGl antibody first approved for medical use in the USA in 2004, and subsequently in the EU in 2005. It is indicated for first-line treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, in combination with specified (5-fluorouricil-based) small molecule chemotherapeutic drugs. 

The three monoclonal antibodies approved, noted in Table 23.1, in the last 7 years for treatment of patients with cancer include Alemtuzumab (Campath M) (Genzyme Corporation, Cambridge, MA, U.S.A.), Cetuzimab (Erbitux ) (ImClone Corporation, Branchburg, NJ, U.S.A.), and bevacizumab (Avastin ) (Genentech, South San Francisco, CA, U.S.A.). 

Avastin Avastin is used for the treatment of colorectal cancer. It is supplied in 100 and 400 mg dosages. The 100 mg formulation consists of 240 mg a,a-trehalose dihydrate, 23.2 mg sodium phosphate (monobasic, monohydrate), 4.8mg sodium phosphate (dibasic, anhydrous), 1.6mg polysorbate 20 and water-for-injection. 

Finally, bevacizumab (Avastin), a humanized anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody has also been approved for treatment of colorectal and breast cancer. There are several... 

I Biologic Therapy. Bevacizumab (Avastin, rhu-MAb VEGF) is a recombinant, humanized monoclonal antibody that inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Bevacizumab, in combination with intravenous fluorouracil-based chemotherapy, was approved by the FDA in 2004 for initial treatment of patients with... 

Subsequently, the company produced Rituxan for the treatment of patients with low-grade or follicular B-cell non-Hodgkin s lymphoma, which expresses the specific antigen CD-29. The company also produces Avastin, an antivascular endothelial growth factor, for treatment of patients with metastatic cancer of the colon or rectum and Herceptin, a humanized anti-HER2 antibody for treating patients with metastatic breast cancer. 

Avery RL, Pearlman J, Pieramici DJ et al. Intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) in the treatment of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Ophthalmology 2006 113( 10) 1695-1705.e6. 

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