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Episode details

Radio 4,25 Sep 2018,19 mins

A legal judgement for Novartis

In Touch

Available for over a year

For more than a decade In Touch has covered a controversial tale of two treatments. Lucentis and Avastin have both been found to be effective in treating Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration, which costs the sight of tens of thousands of people each year. Avastin is vastly cheaper than Lucentis, but is not licensed for use in the eye. Two drug companies Novartis and Bayer brought a legal action to prevent NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups from using Avastin in people's eyes - but the High Court has found against them, confirming that doctors can prescribe the cheaper drug. We speak to the managing director of Novartis Pharmaceuticals in the UK about the decision and about the regulation of drugs which can save sight. And farewell to a brilliant comic mind and a good friend of the programme, Dennis Norden. Presented by Peter White. Produced by Kevin Core

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