The wAMD Trials

CATT Trial
United States
The Comparisons of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatments Trials. CATT is funded by the NEI.

GEFAL
France

IVAN Trial
United Kingdom
A randomized controlled trial of alternative treatments to inhibit VEGF in age-related choroidal neovascularization. IVAN is funded by the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Clinical Trials programme of the UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).

LUCAS
Norway

MANTA Trial
Austria

VIBERA Trial
Germany
Prevention of Vision Loss in Patients with Age-Related Macular Degeneration by Intravitreal Injection of Bevacizumab and Ranibizumab.

The Results

Bevacizumab verus Ranibizumab--The Verdict
NEJM | April 28, 2011
The official CATT results are discussed.

CATT in the Eye of the Beholder: Top government officials react to comparative study
The RPM Report | June 10, 2011
NIH’s Collins, AHRQ’s Clancy, and FDA’s Woodcock offer different reactions to the government-run comparative study pitting Lucentis against off-label Avastin for macular degeneration.

CATT Study Raises More Questions Than It Answers
Macular Degeneration Foundation | May 2011
The Macular Degeneration Foundation comments on the recent CATT results.

Cheaper Roche Drug As Good as Lucentis
Reuters | April 27, 2011
The results of the CATT trial could have a big financial impact on Roche.

Genentech Statement on CAT Trial Data Published in the New England Journal of Medicine
Genentech Newsroom |April 28, 2011
Genentech releases a statement on the CATT results.

New Answers On Macular Degeneration: Important Questions for Comparative Effectiveness Research
Health Affairs Blog | May 6, 2011
Steve Pearson, Director of the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) shares thoughts on CATT.

NIH Study finds Avastin and Lucentis are Equally Effective in Treating Age-Related Macular Degeneration
NIH | April 28, 2011
The NIH reports on CATT trial results which will be released in NEJM on May 1, 2011.

Preparing for the CATT Study: Will Makena controversy have an impact?"
IN VIVO Blog | April 27, 2011
As the CATT results loom, will the situation surrounding pre-term labor drug Makena have an impact?

Royal College of Ophtalmologists' Statement on the CATT Study
April 5, 2011

Statement from the American Academy of Ophthalmology Regarding the Results of the Comparison of AMD Treatment Trials
American Academy of Ophthalmology | April 28, 2011
AAO comments on the results.

Test of Lucentis for Macular Degeneration Said to Show Success
The New York Times | April 27, 2011
Speaking on condition of anonymity, two people familiar with the results of the CATT trial said that regular injections of Avastin and Lucentis resulted in vision changes at the end of a year that were essentially the same.

Ranibizumab and Bevacizumab for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration
NEJM | April 28, 2010
The much anticipated CATT results.

UPDATE: NIH Study: Lucentis, Avastin Equally Effective for Eyes
The Wall Street Journal | April 28, 2011
An updated reporting on the CATT results.

Educational Resources on AMD

AMD Health Corner
Alliance for Aging Research
Patient and physician resources include brochures, quizzes, and a resource guide.

The National Eye Institute AMD Resources
Health information on AMD from the NEI includes patient brochures, AMD animations, statements from the NEI, and other helpful links.

The Silver Book: Vision Loss
Alliance for Aging Research
This unique almanac of references spotlights the impact of chronic disease on our aging population and health care system, and the significant impact medical breakthroughs will have on future health care use and expenditures. The Vision Loss Volume looks at vision loss generally, and highlights data on age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma--which along with cataract are the eye diseases that disproportionately affect older Americans.

AMD and Vision Loss Organizations

Alliance for Aging Research
The Alliance is the nation’s leading non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and accelerating the pace of medical discoveries to vastly improve the universal experience of aging and health. Our website includes a number of resources on AMD at the AMD Health Corner.

AMD Alliance International
AMDAI strives to bring knowledge, help, and hope to individuals and families around the world affected by AMD.

American Macular Degeneration Foundation
AMDF is committed to the prevention and cure of macular degeneration and offers hope and support to those afflicted and their families.

Association for Macular Diseases
The Association offers support to individuals with macular disease, their caregivers, and the professional community.

Foundation Fighting Blindness
The FFB’s mission is to drive the research that will provide preventions, treatments, and cures for people affected by retinitis pigmentosa (RP), macular degeneration, Usher syndrome, and the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases.

Macular Vision Research Foundation
The Foundation’s mission is to find the cause, prevention, treatment, and cure for macular vision diseases with the goal of saving sight and providing public education, advocacy, and support to those with macular degeneration.

Macular Degeneration Foundation
MDF is dedicated to those who have and will develop macular degeneration. They offer this growing community the latest information, news, hope and encouragement.

Macular Degeneration Partnership
The mission of the partnership is to provide comprehensive, easily understood, and up-to-the-minute information about macular degeneration for everyone who needs it.

National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research
NAEVR is a non-profit advocacy organization comprised of a coalition of 55 professional, consumer, and industry organizations involved in eye and vision research. It’s goal is to achieve the best eye and vision care for all Americans through advocacy and public education for eye and vision research sponsored by the NIH, NEI, and other federal research entities.

National Eye Institute
As part of the federal government's NIH, the NEI’s mission is to "conduct and support research, training, health information dissemination, and other programs with respect to blinding eye diseases, visual disorders, mechanisms of visual function, preservation of sight, and the special health problems and requirements of the blind."

Prevent Blindness America
Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness America is the nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care, Prevent Blindness America touches the lives of millions of people each year.

AMD Treatments and Research Developments

Additional Genes Associated with Age-Related Macular Degeneration Identified
National Eye Institute | April 12, 2010
Results of a large-scale collaborative study supported by the NEI were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. This press release highlights the findings, including the identification of three new genes associated with AMD.

AMD Treatments – Overview
A quick introduction to the available treatments for both wet and dry AMD—from AMD Alliance International.

Use of Retinal Procedures in Medicare Beneficiaries From 1997 to 2007
Archives of Ophthalmology | October 2010
Analysis of Medicare claims data reveals marked changes in the use of several retinal procedures between 1997 and 2007, particularly in treating macular degeneration and retinal detachment.