Bioethics of intervention and the case of drugs Bevacizumab and Ranibizumab for retinal diseases

• Published in: Revista Iberoamericana de Bioética
• Main Author: Flávio R. L. Paranhos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidad Pontificia Comillas 2016-10-01
• Subjects: Bioética; ética clínica; drogas biológicas.
• Online Access: http://revistas.upcomillas.es/index.php/bioetica-revista-iberoamericana/article/view/7346

From the year 2000, on a class of biological drugs, the anti-VEGF proved to be quite effective in the treatment of retinal diseases, which have in its pathophysiological mechanism an important vascular proliferation component that can lead to blindness. Two of these drugs, bevacizumab and ranibizumab, are quite similar and have the same efficacy and safety. They were developed by the same laboratory and are commercialized by two major pharmaceutical companies through an agreement made between them. However, there is a big difference in the price of the drugs. The aim of this article is to present the Bioethics of intervention as grounds for choosing the cheaper drug, even if forced to do so by regulatory entities.