Ranibizumab

Ranibizumab (trade name Lucentis among others) is a monoclonal antibody fragment (Fab) created from the same parent mouse antibody as bevacizumab. It is an anti-angiogenic that has been approved to treat the 'wet' type of age-related macular degeneration (AMD, also ARMD), a common form of age-related vision loss. Ranibizumab (trade name Lucentis among others) is a monoclonal antibody fragment (Fab) created from the same parent mouse antibody as bevacizumab. It is an anti-angiogenic that has been approved to treat the 'wet' type of age-related macular degeneration (AMD, also ARMD), a common form of age-related vision loss. Its effectiveness is similar to that of bevacizumab. Its rates of side effects also appear similar. However, ranibizumab typically costs $2,000 a dose, while the equivalent dose of bevacizumab typically costs $50. Ranibizumab was developed by Genentech and marketed by them in the United States, and elsewhere by Novartis, under the brand name Lucentis. Ranibizumab is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits angiogenesis by inhibiting Vascular endothelial growth factor A, a mechanism similar to Bevacizumab. It is often used for age-related wet macular degeneration. Its effectiveness is similar to that of bevacizumab and aflibercept. A 2017 systematic review update found that while ranibizumab and bevacizumab provide similar functional outcomes in diabetic macular edema, there is low-certainty evidence suggesting that ranibizumab is more effective in reducing central retinal thickness than bevacizumab. A 2014 Cochrane review did not find a difference between bevacizumab and ranibizumab in deaths or total severe side effects when used for macular degeneration. There, however, was not a lot of evidence, and thus this conclusion is not that certain. Ranibizumab does appear to result in a lower risk of stomach and intestinal problems. It is also associated with a low rate of eye related side effects. The most common side effects in clinical trials were conjunctival haemorrhage, eye pain, vitreous floaters, increased intraocular pressure, and intraocular inflammation.