The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recently released a statement that it would no longer use Roche’s popular drug, Avastin, to treat eye disease until it can adequately investigate the alarming reports that the drug can lead to serious infections and even blindness. The VA’s decision to drop the drug was ultimately based on the FDA’s recent rejection of using Avastin as a treatment for breast cancer due to the risk of severe bleeding. The announcement certainly carries significant meaning, as the Department of Veterans Affairs is responsible for providing healthcare services to more than 5 million Americans.
While Avastin is only FDA approved to treat certain types of cancers, it is still routinely prescribed by physicians for various off-label uses, such as for the treatment of macular degeneration.
