http://www.laretina.com/Blog/Recent-Blog-Posts/RSS.xml http://www.laretina.com/Retina-Vitreous-Medical-Blog/2011/May/CATT-Results-Released.aspx http://www.laretina.com/Retina-Vitreous-Medical-Blog/2011/May/CATT-Results-Released.aspx Mon, 02 May 2011 21:18:00 GMT The Comparison of AMD Treatment Trials (CATT), of which Retina-Vitreous Associates is a designated site, announced their first year results last week. &nbsp;A large, prospective multicenter, randomized clinical trial funded by the National Eye Institute, the CATT Trial compared intravitreal injections of Avastin with Lucentis for <a href="http://www.laretina.com/Patient-Education/Macular-Degeneration.aspx">wet macular degeneration</a> over a 12 month period. &nbsp;Patients were randomized to either intravitreal Avastin or Lucentis on either a monthly schedule or as needed with monthly evaluation. <div> <br> </div> <div>The results of the study showed that there was no significant difference in visual outcome between the two medications. &nbsp;The study also demonstrated that monthly injections of both medications were not significantly different than injections given as needed as long as they were seen monthly. &nbsp;</div> <div> <br> </div> <div>Rates of death, heart attack, and stroke were similar for patients receiving either drug, though the rate of hospitalizations was slightly higher in the group receiving Avastin.</div> <div> <br> </div> <div>Both Avastin and Lucentis are manufactured by Genentech, a pharmaceutical company based in San Francisco, CA. &nbsp;Though Avastin has only FDA approval for metastatic colon cancer, it has been widely used for several years among retina specialists as an off-label treatment for wet macular degeneration. &nbsp;Lucentis was developed by Genentech after Avastin was shown to be effective for treatment of wet AMD and is FDA approved for both wet AMD and retinal vein occlusion. &nbsp;Up until now, a randomized, multicenter clinical trial comparing the two drugs head-to-head had not been performed.</div> <div> <br> </div> <div>A cost-per-patient analysis was performed in the CATT Trial, and showed that patients receiving monthly Lucentis cost $23,400 per year versus $595 per patient receiving monthly Avastin for one year.</div> <div> <br> </div> <div>Investigators of the CATT Trial, including Retina-Vitreous Associates, will continue to follow patients closely with plans to announce the 2 year results in 2012.</div> <div> <br> </div> <div> Retina-Vitreous Associates (Dr. <a href="http://www.laretina.com/Meet-Our-Doctors/Firas-Rahhal-M-D-.aspx">Firas Rahhal</a>, principal investigator) is proud to be one of only 2 sites in southern California to participate in this national landmark study directly comparing Avastin and Lucentis for wet macular degeneration.&nbsp; </div> Rick Roe http://www.laretina.com/Retina-Vitreous-Medical-Blog/2011/March/Welcome-to-the-Retina-Vitreous-Associates-Medica.aspx http://www.laretina.com/Retina-Vitreous-Medical-Blog/2011/March/Welcome-to-the-Retina-Vitreous-Associates-Medica.aspx Wed, 23 Mar 2011 23:35:00 GMT Retina-Vitreous Associates is pleased to announce the launch of our new website as well as our medical blog. &nbsp;Please take a moment to navigate the new website and learn about our doctors and what we do. &nbsp;All of us at Retina-Vitreous Associates are committed to the highest quality care in the field of retina for all our patients.<div> <br> </div> <div>Retina-Vitreous Associates is also pleased to announce the opening of our new Pasadena office as well as the addition of Dr. David Liao. &nbsp;</div> Retina-Vitreous Associates Medical Group