Bevacizumab (Avastin): Off-label Use in Ophthalmology

Abstract

Off-label (unlabelled or unapproved) use of approved product refers to the use of
an approved product in a scenario that is not included or is disclaimed in the product information. Examples include use for a different indication, in a different patient age range-group, different dose or different route of administration to that which is approved by regulatory authorities. Genetech (San Francisco, CA) developed a monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) that was as a cancer therapy with the idea that reducing the vascular supply to a tumor may inhibit growth of the cancer.
VEGF is a protein and is the most important growth factor for neovascularization in a variety of tissues including the eye.

Keywords: neovascularization, choroidal, macular, telangectasia

Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences Vol. 3 (1) 2008: pp. 71-74