AMD

Congress has appropriated $12 million in funding to support the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA). Grants were given to organizations that will offer free tax preparation services to the elderly and disabled. To qualify, your income should be below $50,000. The toll free number for locations on tax counseling and income tax assistance is 800-906-9887.

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A statement issued on February 14th, by the FDA, warns patients and health professionals that a counterfeit version of Avastin 400 mg may have filtered down to some medical practices in the United States. The counterfeit version does not contain the medicine’s active ingredient, bevcizumab, which is needed for AMD therapy. The FDA informs doctors that the counterfeit version has a Roche label, and batch numbers and expiration dates inconsistent with Genetech’s approved format.

A study report from the nutrition research center at Tufts University reveals a delay in development of AMD-like lesions as the result of a lower glycemic index (GI) diet.  The mice on the lower GI diet had less accumulations of debris in the retina.

Low GI foods are whole grain bread, fruits and vegetables.  High GI foods are white bread and white potatoes.  The lower GI foods initiate a slower release of glucose that is more easily processed by cells.

This study “suggests that diet alone is enough to accelerate or delay the formation of lesions.”

Effective October 1, 2011, outpatient facilities can obtain reimbursement for the intraocular telescopic implant for covered procedures. Medicare has granted transitional pass-through payment status and established a billing code for the device. FDA has approved it for patients with end-stage age-related macular degeneration, central vision blindness, failure to respond to AMD medications, or in patients that have a form of the disease for which no treatment is available.

The FDA delayed its approval of the VEGF Trap-Eye drug Eylea, despite its advisory panel’s recommendations, and extended the target date for completion of its review of the medicine to November 18th. There were questions on the company’s application regarding chemistry, manufacturing, controls and sales.

The drug, Eylea, manufactured by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, would compete with Roche’s Lucentis. It only has to be injected every eight weeks, half as often as Lucentis.