The controversial drug Lucentis in combination with laser treatment can improve eyesight in people with diabetes-associated blindness, researchers from the US National Eye Institute (NEI) reported today.

The findings have been hailed as a major advance for those suffering from a condition known as diabetic macular edema. But critics have lambasted the government agency for testing Genentech’s Lucentis instead of the company’s much cheaper cancer drug Avastin, which works by the same mechanism as Lucentis and is already prescribed off-label by many retina specialists.

Two years ago, we reported how eye doctors raised a stink after Genentech proposed to restrict sales of Avastin — which costs only $50 to $100 a dose when used in the eye compared to about $2,000 a pop for Lucentis — for treating macular degeneration.

Now, researchers are crying foul over the NEI’s decision to accept $9 million in financing and free drugs from Genentech in exchange for testing Lucentis over Avastin. The trial was “clearly a case of pay to play,” University of Miami ophthalmologist Philip Rosenfeld told the New York Times.

Genentech is reportedly conducting two of its own clinical trials, and plans to seek regulatory approval to market Lucentis, also known as ranibizumab, for macular edema. The NEI is also carrying out a trial comparing Lucentis to Avastin for treating macular degeneration. Results for all these trials are expected next year.

Image of macular edema via Wikipedia