Ranibizumab

Ranibizumab (trade name Lucentis) is a monoclonal antibody fragment derived from the same parent murine antibody as bevacizumab (Avastin). It is much smaller than the parent molecule and has been affinity matured to provide stronger binding to VEGF-A. It is an anti-angiogenic that has been approved to treat the "wet" type of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), a common form of age-related vision loss. Ranibizumab was developed by Genentech a... more

Ranibizumab (trade name Lucentis) is a monoclonal antibody fragment derived from the same parent murine antibody as bevacizumab (Avastin). It is much smaller than the parent molecule and has been affinity matured to provide stronger binding to VEGF-A. It is an anti-angiogenic that has been approved to treat the "wet" type of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), a common form of age-related vision loss. Ranibizumab was developed by Genentech and is marketed in the United States by Genentech and elsewhere by Novartis , under the brand name Lucentis. Ranibizumab binds to and inhibits all subtypes of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A). VEGF may trigger the growth of new vessels, which may leak blood and fluid into the eye. These leaky blood vessels may contribute to macular edema and choroidal neovascularization, resulting in the wet type of ARMD. By blocking VEGF-A in the eye, ranibizumab may prevent and reverse vision loss caused by wet macular degeneration. The drug is... less