Bevacizumab gamma at a glance
Medicine class
Anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody and antineovascularisation medicine.
Licensed use
Wet age-related macular degeneration in adults.
How it is given
Injection into the vitreous of the eye by a qualified healthcare professional experienced in intravitreal injections.
Driving
Vision may be temporarily blurred after treatment; do not drive or use machinery until it has returned to normal.
What is Bevacizumab gamma used for?
UK-licensed use:
Treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration in adults.
How does Bevacizumab gamma work?
Bevacizumab gamma is an antibody that binds vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A). Blocking VEGF-A reduces the growth and leakage of abnormal blood vessels beneath the retina, helping to stabilise or improve central vision.
Bevacizumab gamma preparations and strengths
Injection
Route: Parenteral
Strengths: 25 mg/mL
How to take Bevacizumab gamma
This medicine is not taken by mouth. A specialist injects it into the eye using sterile technique after applying local anaesthetic and antiseptic. Eye pressure and vision may be checked afterwards. Food does not affect its administration.
Tell the eye team about glaucoma, previous eye treatment or surgery, recent or planned eye surgery, blood clots, stroke, heart attack and all medicines being used.
Arrange transport if necessary because temporary blurred vision can make driving unsafe.
Follow the eye unit's aftercare instructions and keep scheduled monitoring appointments.
Bevacizumab gamma side effects
Common or expected effects
- Small moving spots or floaters in the vision
- Eye pain
- Bleeding or a red patch on the white of the eye
- Raised pressure inside the eye
Get urgent medical advice
- Infection or severe inflammation inside the eye, suggested by increasing pain, redness, light sensitivity, floaters or worsening vision
- A retinal tear or detachment, which may cause flashes, rapidly increasing floaters or a curtain across the vision
- A marked rise in eye pressure requiring prompt treatment
- Temporary blindness or sudden loss of vision
Bevacizumab gamma in pregnancy
There are no adequate data for bevacizumab gamma in pregnancy, and VEGF inhibition may harm embryo-fetal development. It should not be used during pregnancy unless a specialist judges that the potential benefit outweighs the fetal risk. People who could become pregnant should discuss contraception and any planned or suspected pregnancy with the prescriber.
Bevacizumab gamma while breastfeeding
It is unknown whether bevacizumab gamma enters human milk or affects a breastfed infant or milk production. A specialist should weigh the benefits of breastfeeding against the need for treatment and agree whether breastfeeding or treatment should be paused.
Bevacizumab gamma interactions
Formal interaction studies have not been performed. Tell the eye team about all prescribed, non-prescribed and eye medicines.
Other systemic or ocular anti-VEGF medicines
Concurrent use is not recommended because safety data are unavailable and combined exposure may increase adverse effects.
Common questions about Bevacizumab gamma
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is bevacizumab gamma the same as Lytenava?
Yes. Lytenava is the brand name of the UK-licensed intravitreal product containing bevacizumab gamma.
Is bevacizumab gamma a cancer treatment?
Bevacizumab gamma in Lytenava is specifically formulated and licensed as an eye injection for wet AMD. It should not be confused or interchanged with intravenous bevacizumab products used in cancer care.
Can bevacizumab gamma cure wet AMD?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.