Comments on: The temptation of the dark side: Genentech, Avastin and macular degeneration http://venturebeat.com/2007/10/18/the-temptation-of-the-dark-side-genentech-avastin-and-macular-degeneration/ News About Tech, Money and Innovation Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:19:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Barry Wheeler http://venturebeat.com/2007/10/18/the-temptation-of-the-dark-side-genentech-avastin-and-macular-degeneration/comment-page-1/#comment-803334 Barry Wheeler Mon, 14 Apr 2008 05:20:51 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/10/18/the-temptation-of-the-dark-side-genentech-avastin-and-macular-degeneration/#comment-803334 It is very interesting now to see that GenenTech's sales of Lucentis, the FDA approved drug as a treatment for macular degeneration has declined by 6% and the sale of avastin has gone up by 13%. Having their cake and eat it too, while trying to limit avastin as a drug that can be used to treat wet macular degeneration. Corporate greed or sound business practice? It is very interesting now to see that GenenTech’s sales of Lucentis, the FDA approved drug as a treatment for macular degeneration has declined by 6% and the sale of avastin has gone up by 13%. Having their cake and eat it too, while trying to limit avastin as a drug that can be used to treat wet macular degeneration. Corporate greed or sound business practice?

]]> By: VentureBeat » Genentech takes a step back from the dark side, delays Avastin restrictions http://venturebeat.com/2007/10/18/the-temptation-of-the-dark-side-genentech-avastin-and-macular-degeneration/comment-page-1/#comment-604452 VentureBeat » Genentech takes a step back from the dark side, delays Avastin restrictions Tue, 30 Oct 2007 17:33:33 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/10/18/the-temptation-of-the-dark-side-genentech-avastin-and-macular-degeneration/#comment-604452 [...] Almost two weeks ago, Genentech angered doctors and elderly patients when it announced plans to restrict access to Avastin, a cancer drug that doubles as an unapproved, but quite inexpensive, treatment for eye disease. In those conditions, which can lead to encroaching blindness when left untreated, Avastin competes with a much more costly Genentech drug called Lucentis. (For background and our take on the situation, click here.) [...] [...] Almost two weeks ago, Genentech angered doctors and elderly patients when it announced plans to restrict access to Avastin, a cancer drug that doubles as an unapproved, but quite inexpensive, treatment for eye disease. In those conditions, which can lead to encroaching blindness when left untreated, Avastin competes with a much more costly Genentech drug called Lucentis. (For background and our take on the situation, click here.) [...]

]]> By: David P. Hamilton http://venturebeat.com/2007/10/18/the-temptation-of-the-dark-side-genentech-avastin-and-macular-degeneration/comment-page-1/#comment-595366 David P. Hamilton Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:46:18 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/10/18/the-temptation-of-the-dark-side-genentech-avastin-and-macular-degeneration/#comment-595366 Joe, Genentech said in its most recent conference call that 55 percent of wet AMD patients are using Lucentis; retinal specialists estimate that the remainder are using Avastin. See the NYT link I gave at the end of the post for more. Joe, Genentech said in its most recent conference call that 55 percent of wet AMD patients are using Lucentis; retinal specialists estimate that the remainder are using Avastin. See the NYT link I gave at the end of the post for more.

]]> By: Joe http://venturebeat.com/2007/10/18/the-temptation-of-the-dark-side-genentech-avastin-and-macular-degeneration/comment-page-1/#comment-595310 Joe Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:46:15 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/10/18/the-temptation-of-the-dark-side-genentech-avastin-and-macular-degeneration/#comment-595310 "The move will almost certainly crimp the availability of the drug for the roughly half of elderly AMD patients who have been using it as an alternative to Lucentis." David, what was your source on this? Just curious... “The move will almost certainly crimp the availability of the drug for the roughly half of elderly AMD patients who have been using it as an alternative to Lucentis.”

David, what was your source on this? Just curious…

]]> By: piotr http://venturebeat.com/2007/10/18/the-temptation-of-the-dark-side-genentech-avastin-and-macular-degeneration/comment-page-1/#comment-592062 piotr Tue, 23 Oct 2007 12:39:21 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/10/18/the-temptation-of-the-dark-side-genentech-avastin-and-macular-degeneration/#comment-592062 I guess it is not easy to balance the best interests of patients and shareholders. I am really happy to see this discussion here, because in my view biotech and pharma are overdue for a little paradigm adjustment. Hopefully I am not the only one who is sick and tired of all the drug commercials claiming the unconditional love of the poor patient, while the real motivation is the multimillion compensation packages for top executives. I guess it is not easy to balance the best interests of patients and shareholders. I am really happy to see this discussion here, because in my view biotech and pharma are overdue for a little paradigm adjustment. Hopefully I am not the only one who is sick and tired of all the drug commercials claiming the unconditional love of the poor patient, while the real motivation is the multimillion compensation packages for top executives.

]]> By: David P. Hamilton http://venturebeat.com/2007/10/18/the-temptation-of-the-dark-side-genentech-avastin-and-macular-degeneration/comment-page-1/#comment-591222 David P. Hamilton Mon, 22 Oct 2007 21:02:46 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/10/18/the-temptation-of-the-dark-side-genentech-avastin-and-macular-degeneration/#comment-591222 Piotr: That's what I get for not following your link prior to commenting. D'oh! Anyway, the VEGF Trap phase II data do look pretty interesting, although I believe Macugen also had some pretty impressive phase II results involving vision improvement that the company was never able to replicate in phase III. So the cautionary tales still abound. Piotr: That’s what I get for not following your link prior to commenting. D’oh!

Anyway, the VEGF Trap phase II data do look pretty interesting, although I believe Macugen also had some pretty impressive phase II results involving vision improvement that the company was never able to replicate in phase III. So the cautionary tales still abound.

]]> By: David P. Hamilton http://venturebeat.com/2007/10/18/the-temptation-of-the-dark-side-genentech-avastin-and-macular-degeneration/comment-page-1/#comment-591208 David P. Hamilton Mon, 22 Oct 2007 20:50:35 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/10/18/the-temptation-of-the-dark-side-genentech-avastin-and-macular-degeneration/#comment-591208 Thanks, Irv. I'll check it out. Piotr, I apologize for not responding to you earlier. The Regeneron drug could be a direct competitor to Lucentis, although it's worth remembering that other VEGF inhibitors -- specifically Eyetech's Macugen -- appear not to have worked anywhere near as well as either Lucentis or Avastin. Even if VEGF Trap is effective in wet AMD, I'd be surprised if a real price war breaks out, since we very rarely see those in the pharma and biotech industries. But that's a subject for another day. Thanks, Irv. I’ll check it out.

Piotr, I apologize for not responding to you earlier. The Regeneron drug could be a direct competitor to Lucentis, although it’s worth remembering that other VEGF inhibitors — specifically Eyetech’s Macugen — appear not to have worked anywhere near as well as either Lucentis or Avastin. Even if VEGF Trap is effective in wet AMD, I’d be surprised if a real price war breaks out, since we very rarely see those in the pharma and biotech industries. But that’s a subject for another day.

]]> By: Irv Arons http://venturebeat.com/2007/10/18/the-temptation-of-the-dark-side-genentech-avastin-and-macular-degeneration/comment-page-1/#comment-588968 Irv Arons Sat, 20 Oct 2007 20:59:01 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/10/18/the-temptation-of-the-dark-side-genentech-avastin-and-macular-degeneration/#comment-588968 It looks like Senator Herb Kohl may come to the rescue. As Chairman of the Senate's Special Committee on Aging, he has asked the CMS to look into the price differential between Avastin and Lucentis. (This comes from the WSJ's Health Blog, which I have reproduced on my web Journal -- on which I have been following the Avistan vs Lucentis controversy for over a year. I now have 19 postings on the subject.) The link to the Sen. Kohl update (No. 19) is: http://irvaronsjournal.blogspot.com/2007/10/avastinlucentis-update-19-us-senator.html David, with your publishers permission, I have also reproduced your commentary on my blog. It is Update No. 18. Dr. Philip Rosenfeld, the initiator of the use of Avastin for AMD thought that your writeup was particularly good -- he remembers talking to you two years ago. Irv Arons It looks like Senator Herb Kohl may come to the rescue. As Chairman of the Senate’s Special Committee on Aging, he has asked the CMS to look into the price differential between Avastin and Lucentis. (This comes from the WSJ’s Health Blog, which I have reproduced on my web Journal — on which I have been following the Avistan vs Lucentis controversy for over a year. I now have 19 postings on the subject.)

The link to the Sen. Kohl update (No. 19) is:

http://irvaronsjournal.blogspot.com/2007/10/avastinlucentis-update-19-us-senator.html

David, with your publishers permission, I have also reproduced your commentary on my blog. It is Update No. 18.

Dr. Philip Rosenfeld, the initiator of the use of Avastin for AMD thought that your writeup was particularly good — he remembers talking to you two years ago.

Irv Arons

]]> By: David P. Hamilton http://venturebeat.com/2007/10/18/the-temptation-of-the-dark-side-genentech-avastin-and-macular-degeneration/comment-page-1/#comment-587540 David P. Hamilton Fri, 19 Oct 2007 18:27:05 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/10/18/the-temptation-of-the-dark-side-genentech-avastin-and-macular-degeneration/#comment-587540 OK, fair enough to anyone who accuses me of being shocked that a drug company might be interested in making money. Look, I wrote for the WSJ for 14 years -- of course I understand that drug companies need to make a profit, and I have no problem with that. I do object to the lofty humanitarianism some companies adopt -- which, in fact, frequently leads to them being offended if you don't accept it at face value -- when in fact their actions are often at odds with the "patient-centered" values they claim to hold. Maybe their corporate mission statements should all bear an asterisk referring to a footnote that reads, "So long as it doesn't conflict with the interests of our shareholders." At least that would be truth in advertising. Steve Cowen -- no relation to the S.G. Cowen who founded the firm Eric Schmidt works for, I assume -- I'd be happy to address your argument on the merits, if in fact you were to offer any. If you'd like to state your objections more specifically, I'd be more than pleased to address them. OK, fair enough to anyone who accuses me of being shocked that a drug company might be interested in making money. Look, I wrote for the WSJ for 14 years — of course I understand that drug companies need to make a profit, and I have no problem with that. I do object to the lofty humanitarianism some companies adopt — which, in fact, frequently leads to them being offended if you don’t accept it at face value — when in fact their actions are often at odds with the “patient-centered” values they claim to hold. Maybe their corporate mission statements should all bear an asterisk referring to a footnote that reads, “So long as it doesn’t conflict with the interests of our shareholders.” At least that would be truth in advertising.

Steve Cowen — no relation to the S.G. Cowen who founded the firm Eric Schmidt works for, I assume — I’d be happy to address your argument on the merits, if in fact you were to offer any. If you’d like to state your objections more specifically, I’d be more than pleased to address them.

]]> By: VentureBeat » Genentech, and the temptation of the dark side http://venturebeat.com/2007/10/18/the-temptation-of-the-dark-side-genentech-avastin-and-macular-degeneration/comment-page-1/#comment-587288 VentureBeat » Genentech, and the temptation of the dark side Fri, 19 Oct 2007 17:53:39 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/10/18/the-temptation-of-the-dark-side-genentech-avastin-and-macular-degeneration/#comment-587288 [...] which runs close to $2,000 per monthly shot. By contrast, Avastin, only cost about $40 a shot. Read the story about why Genentech has limited the use of that cheaper, very successful  drug, by David Hamilton, [...] [...] which runs close to $2,000 per monthly shot. By contrast, Avastin, only cost about $40 a shot. Read the story about why Genentech has limited the use of that cheaper, very successful  drug, by David Hamilton, [...]

]]> By: Steve Cowen http://venturebeat.com/2007/10/18/the-temptation-of-the-dark-side-genentech-avastin-and-macular-degeneration/comment-page-1/#comment-587246 Steve Cowen Fri, 19 Oct 2007 17:29:36 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/10/18/the-temptation-of-the-dark-side-genentech-avastin-and-macular-degeneration/#comment-587246 This is the most one sided article I've seen in awhile. So much for fair balance news reporting. What's sad is the the writer of this article who thinks this is good journalism. This is trash! This is the most one sided article I’ve seen in awhile. So much for fair balance news reporting. What’s sad is the the writer of this article who thinks this is good journalism.

This is trash!

]]> By: piotr http://venturebeat.com/2007/10/18/the-temptation-of-the-dark-side-genentech-avastin-and-macular-degeneration/comment-page-1/#comment-587176 piotr Fri, 19 Oct 2007 17:05:02 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/10/18/the-temptation-of-the-dark-side-genentech-avastin-and-macular-degeneration/#comment-587176 Very interesting, if very sad, piece. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Bayer have a <a href="http://www.regeneron.com/company/press_detail.asp?v_c_id=283" rel="nofollow">Phase 3 trial for their VEGF Trap in wet AMD</a>, in direct comparison with Lucentis. Assuming things work out for them, doesn't it mean that DNA is just trying to make a few extra bucks while it can, but the price will eventually go down? Very interesting, if very sad, piece.
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Bayer have a Phase 3 trial for their VEGF Trap in wet AMD, in direct comparison with Lucentis. Assuming things work out for them, doesn’t it mean that DNA is just trying to make a few extra bucks while it can, but the price will eventually go down?

]]> By: The biggest biotech newest this last week involves a company and greed, wait, this is not news! « HIPPOCRATech http://venturebeat.com/2007/10/18/the-temptation-of-the-dark-side-genentech-avastin-and-macular-degeneration/comment-page-1/#comment-586784 The biggest biotech newest this last week involves a company and greed, wait, this is not news! « HIPPOCRATech Fri, 19 Oct 2007 10:27:12 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/10/18/the-temptation-of-the-dark-side-genentech-avastin-and-macular-degeneration/#comment-586784 [...] can read more about the story here, here, here, here, here and [...] [...] can read more about the story here, here, here, here, here and [...]

]]>