Editing Novartis (section)

===Avastin===
Outside the US, Novartis markets the drug [[ranibizumab]] (trade name Lucentis), which is a [[monoclonal antibody]] fragment derived from the same parent mouse antibody as [[bevacizumab]] (Avastin). Both Avastin and Lucentis were created by [[Genentech]] which is owned by Roche; Roche markets Avastin worldwide, and also markets Lucentis in the US. Lucentis has been approved worldwide as a treatment for wet [[macular degeneration]] and other retinal disorders; Avastin is used to treat certain cancers. Because the price of Lucentis is much higher than Avastin, many ophthalmologists began having [[compounding pharmacies]] formulate Avastin for administration to the eye and began treating their patients with Avastin.<ref>Andrew Pollack for ''The New York Times''. 28 April 2011 [https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/29/business/29eye.html?_r=0 Cheaper Drug to Treat Eye Disease Is Effective] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916202106/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/29/business/29eye.html?_r=0 |date=16 September 2018 }}</ref> In 2011, four trusts of the [[National Health Service]] in the UK issued policies approving use and payment for administering Avastin for macular degeneration, in order to save money, even though Avastin had not been approved for that indication.<ref name="BBClucentis">{{Cite news |last=Jeffreys |first=Branwen |date=2012-05-06 |title=Using Avastin for eye condition wet AMD 'could save NHS £84m' |publisher=bbc.com |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17956425 |url-status=live |access-date=2012-05-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106060449/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17956425 |archive-date=2013-11-06}}</ref> In April 2012, after failing to persuade the trusts that it was uncertain whether Avastin was as safe and effective as Lucentis, and in order to retain the market for Lucentis, Novartis announced it would sue the trusts.<ref name=BBClucentis/><ref name="copleyreuters2012">{{Citation |last1=Copley |first1=Caroline |title=Novartis challenges UK Avastin use in eye disease |date=24 April 2012 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-novartis-britain-idUSBRE83N0GM20120424 |df=dmy |editor-last=Potter, Mark |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522203804/https://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/24/us-novartis-britain-idUSBRE83N0GM20120424 |publisher=Reuters |access-date=2012-04-29 |archive-date=22 May 2013 |last2=Hirschler |first2=Ben |url-status=live}}</ref> However, in July Novartis offered significant discounts (kept confidential) to the trusts, and the trusts agreed to change their policy,<ref>Ben Adams for Pharmafile. 26 July 2012 [http://www.pharmafile.com/news/173606/lucentis-price-cut-ends-pct-novartis-dispute Lucentis price cut ends PCT-Novartis dispute] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019124934/http://www.pharmafile.com/news/173606/lucentis-price-cut-ends-pct-novartis-dispute |date=19 October 2013 }}</ref> and in November, Novartis dropped the litigation.<ref>Ben Adams for Pharma Times. 3 October 2012. [http://www.pharmatimes.com/Article/12-10-03/Novartis_to_drop_legal_case_against_NHS_body.aspx Novartis to drop legal case against NHS body] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019132110/http://www.pharmatimes.com/Article/12-10-03/Novartis_to_drop_legal_case_against_NHS_body.aspx |date=19 October 2013 }}</ref>