The shortage creates a lot of uncertainty for both patients and practitioners. Visudyne is used in the treatment of Serosa, where fluid builds up under the retina, especially in the macula (yellow spot). If patients do not receive the drug, their vision may deteriorate further or even disappear completely. “We find this an extremely worrying situation,” said a hospital spokesperson.
The little bit of Visudyne that remains in Dutch hospitals is now distributed via a national committee. That committee is part of the Dutch Ophthalmological Society (NOG). A doctor from the Eye Hospital is also on the committee.
Before patients can apply, they must first check with their doctor whether they are eligible for the drug. The committee determines per application whether a patient meets a series of strict criteria. If so, the patient is assigned the drug. “It depends on the prioritization of the complaints,” says the spokesperson.
There are no alternatives to Visudyne, and there is only one producer. As a result, the whole world is now anxiously awaiting the drug, which will most likely not be available again until February 2022. “We also have no more stock,” said the spokesperson.
Damage cannot always be repaired
Although more than 100,000 people in the Netherlands have retinal disorders, Visudyne is only intended for people with Seros. On an annual basis, there are approximately 700 patients in the Netherlands who receive Visudyne.
It is not known how many patients with Serosa are in the Eye Hospital. Also, the patients of the Eye Hospital do not by definition have an advantage in the distribution of the medicine. “Our patients are the same as the patients in the other hospitals. It depends on the clinical picture whether someone is given Visudyne.”
Patients who are unable to obtain the drug currently have no choice but to wait for a new supply, and that creates the necessary problems, especially as the problems with their eyes continue to develop.
“The damage can sometimes be repaired, but that is not always the case,” says the spokesperson for the Eye Hospital. “That is of course what we as an Eye Hospital are concerned about, but we have no influence on production problems at that manufacturer.”
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