RE: Price for treatmentApparently, this is the pricing breakdown:
Macugen is about $1000-1300 per injection and 18 treatments are needed over 2 years (total cost for Macugen treatment could range from $18 to 23 K)
Visudyne is $1300-2000 per injection and 5 treatments are needed over 2 years (total cost for Visudyne might be $6 to 10 K).
In addition to the substantial cost savings, there are far fewer trips to the doctor and less invasive treatment (needle in the arm for V vs needle in the eye for Macugen). On the other hand, Macugen does seem to work quicker and perhaps better for certain eye diseases.
I think it's anyone guess what will happen to Visudyne sales but my bet is that sales will actually keep improving as: a) some people will choose the less invasive option; and b) some people will choose to go for combination therapy (both Visudyne and Macugen). There is also the possibility that the Visudyne/Kenalog trials might (in the future) prove even better efficacy. Time will tell...