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"Guests: Manchester ophthalmologist Michael Lavin; Professor Jonathan Gibson, ophthalmologist at Hartlands Hospital in Birmingham; Tom Bremridge, of the Macular Disease Society; and Steve Winyard, Head of policy for the Royal National institute of Blind people
The programme reports on the trialling of the drug Avastin as a treatment for wet macular degeneration and a possible alternative to the more expensive Lucentis.
The trial is currently under way and is not seeking any further volunteers."

"The Royal College of Ophthalmologists recently held their annual scientific meeting in Liverpool, attracting specialists from all over the world; amongst them, Professor Phillip Rosenfeld, Professor of Ophthalmology at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami. Professor Rosenfeld pioneered the use of the drug Avastin to treat Macular disease. Peter talked to him about Avastin and other scientific developments in the eye care field."

"The drug Lucentis - used in the treatment of Wet AMD - costs the NHS more than one per cent of its whole drugs budget. Now the Macular Disease Society wants the Government to appraise the far cheaper alternative Avastin. It's currently unlicenced for the treatment of eye disease because of concerns about side effects but is being prescribed by some private opthalmologists and an increasing number of Primary Care Trusts in the NHS. Helen Jackman from the MD Society explains why they want the Department of Health to act now."

"Prof Andrew Lotery is one of the Consultant Ophthalmologists involved in the Ivan trials, comparing the drugs Avastin and Lucentis as a treatment for Age-Related Macular Degeneration. The trials showed that the side-effects of both drugs are equally of risk to patients. Prof Lotery says he feels there is now enough information for the Department of Health to require NICE to issue guidance to clinicians. Currently doctors make decisions to use Avastin off-label"

"The Italian Competition Authority has fined two pharmaceutical companies, Roche and Novartis, a total of 182.5 million euros, accusing them of colluding to promote a more expensive drug over a cheaper alternative. Lucentis and Avastin are both drugs used in the treatment of wet Age-related Macular Degeneration, with Lucentis is around ten times the cost of Avastin. Novartis and Roche are appealing the decision. We speak to Daniela Minerva, a health journalist in Italy, about the case, and what it means for the treatment of wet AMD in Italy. We also speak to Helen Jackman from the Macular Society, about what the organisation would like to see happen here in the UK."