MEDCAC backs anti-VEGFs for DME

CMS's Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee concluded on Wednesday that there is adequate evidence that anti-VEGF treatments for diabetic macular edema improve patient outcomes compared to management of DME without the targeted agents. The average vote among voting committee members was 3.8 on a scale of 1-5, where 1 is "low confidence," 3 is "intermediate confidence," and 5 is "high confidence."

However, panel members did not feel there was sufficient evidence to determine whether there were clinically meaningful differences in health outcomes among the available anti-VEGF treatments, with an average panel vote of 2.1. The panel considered Lucentis ranibizumab from Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY) and Genentech Inc.; Eylea aflibercept from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:REGN); Macugen pegaptanib from Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. (TSX:VRX; NYSE:VRX); and cancer drug Avastin bevacizumab from Roche and Genentech. ...