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Stories of VABYSMO success
Real patient stories from others living with DME
Watch how VABYSMO® helps people find time to be themselves with their loved ones. Your story is important. Become a patient ambassador and share your unique experience.
TIME TO BE WITH FAMILY
Voice-Over:
RUSSELL:
The best thing would probably be just the love of the family. “Hi, gang! Hi! Hi!” With my daughter, I’ve gotten to do a lot of exciting things throughout the years. We started to do a little hiking, a lot of traveling. We are so adventurous, we’ll just jump in a car and take off and go.
Hi, I’m Russell. I was first diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy, which later turned into macular edema, but with the help of the VABYSMO drug, I’ve been able to maintain my vision to the point it is today.
I manage an auto parts store. I supervise about 10 people directly, and I’m very comfortable with what I do. I’ve been there for over 30 years, and I enjoy it a lot. This is the office where I spend my days. This is my son and his family, and it’s my other grandkids, my daughter. You know, it’s kind of nice to be able to still connect visually with the family, you know, and things are maybe going a little rough. You look up, you look at one of the kids, and you just smile and think, that’s my grandkid, you know. That’s why I do this job, just for my family.
When I first started having eye problems, I was driving down the road, and as I would see a road sign, it felt like it was a little twisted or a little off, you know, and went to my eye doctor who immediately said, “You need to see a specialist.” I was diagnosed with macular edema. You know, it was diabetes-related, which I’d been diagnosed with several years before. That’s when I realized I needed to start taking better care of myself, get my diabetes under control, lose weight, get my vision straightened out. It was a big turning point in my life. I just couldn’t imagine what life was gonna be like sitting in a dark world. The possibility of going blind was really kind of scary. So I would just turn the lights off, turn the radio on in a dark room, and just sit and imagine this is my life ahead of me.
With wanting to be so active, I can’t work around blurry vision or have to worry about who can I get to cover my work or have to rely on somebody else to take care of me. And I couldn’t imagine not seeing my grandchildren grow up.
DAUGHTER:
It was scary, the fact that he might go blind because we go so many places and do so many things. I mean, he’s my travel buddy. Like, I don’t go places without him.
RUSSELL:
Watch your step backing up there.
Before VABYSMO, I was taking another drug where I was getting a shot in each eye every 4 weeks. And then the doctor told me about VABYSMO and now I only need them a few times a year. The longer the gaps between the treatments is just a big help in my life. So it allows me to continue working more, plan more time with my family, plan more adventures with my daughter. VABYSMO has given me hope that I won’t lose my vision.
I just can’t stress to people how important it is to take care of your eyes and your overall health. I have a long future and I look forward to my family being around for a long time. I’ve got young grandkids, I want to see them grow up. I want to experience life. VABYSMO has just opened up my world.
ANNOUNCER VO:
Important Safety Information
What is VABYSMO?
VABYSMO (faricimab-svoa) is a prescription medicine given by injection into the eye used to treat adults with neovascular (wet) age‑related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic macular edema (DME), and macular edema following retinal vein occlusion (RVO).
Do not receive VABYSMO if you:
- Have an infection in or around your eye.
- Have active swelling around your eye that may include pain and redness.
- Are allergic to VABYSMO or any of the ingredients in VABYSMO.
What is the most important information I should know about VABYSMO?
- Injections like the one for VABYSMO can cause an eye infection (endophthalmitis), separation of layers of the retina (retinal detachment), or inflammation in the eye that can lead to vision loss. Call your healthcare provider right away if your eye becomes red, sensitive to light, or you have a change or loss of vision.
- VABYSMO may cause a temporary increase in pressure in the eye (intraocular pressure), which occurs within 60 minutes after receiving the eye injection.
- Although not common, VABYSMO patients have had serious, sometimes fatal, problems related to blood clots, such as heart attacks or strokes (thromboembolic events). In clinical studies for wet AMD during the first year, 7 out of 664 patients treated with VABYSMO reported such an event. In clinical studies for DME from baseline to week 100, 64 out of 1,262 patients treated with VABYSMO reported such an event. In clinical studies for RVO during 6 months, 7 out of 641 patients treated with VABYSMO reported such an event.
- Severe inflammation of vessels in the retina has happened for patients treated with VABYSMO. Call your healthcare provider immediately if you experience a change in vision.
Before receiving VABYSMO, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Based on how VABYSMO interacts with your body, there may be a potential risk to your unborn baby. You should use birth control before your first injection, during your treatment with VABYSMO, and for 3 months after your last dose of VABYSMO.
- Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if VABYSMO passes into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you receive VABYSMO.
- Are taking any medications, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take.
What should I avoid while receiving VABYSMO?
- Your vision may be impaired after receiving an eye injection or after an eye exam. Do not drive or use machinery until your vision has recovered sufficiently.
What are the most common side effects with VABYSMO?
- The most common side effects with VABYSMO were cataract and blood on the white of the eye (conjunctival hemorrhage).
- These are not all the possible side effects of VABYSMO.
Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects to Genentech at 1-888-835-2555.
Please see the VABYSMO full Prescribing Information for additional Important Safety Information.
VABYSMO was really a blessing for me. The long gaps between the treatments allows me to plan MORE TIME WITH MY FAMILY AND MORE ADVENTURES WITH MY DAUGHTER.
Patient experiences may vary.
Russell
A DME patient being treated with VABYSMO since June 2022
Russell is a family man. He loves to spend time with his grandchildren and enjoys taking spontaneous road trips with his daughter, hiking, and seeing the sights. After his DME diagnosis, he was worried those days were over. Then he started treatment with VABYSMO. In his words, “Don’t accept losing sight—educate yourself, take care of yourself.”
Watch the video to hear how Russell has more time to be with family, thanks to VABYSMO.
VABYSMO was really a blessing for me. The long gaps between the treatments allows me to plan MORE TIME WITH MY FAMILY AND MORE ADVENTURES WITH MY DAUGHTER.
Patient experiences may vary.
TIME TO BE CONFIDENT
Armye
A DME patient being treated with VABYSMO since January 2023
Armye is a taxi driver—and for 27 years he’s also been a youth football coach. Coaching is one of his greatest joys, so when he was diagnosed with DME, he worried about his eyesight—and his passion. Armye took action and started treatment with VABYSMO. He was nervous during his first treatment, but now he feels confident and is looking forward to the future. These days, he gets injections every few months. In his free time, he’s coaching football, improving his pool game, and living his life.
I have a lot MORE TIME FOR MY LIFE.
Patient experiences may vary.
I have a lot MORE TIME FOR MY LIFE.
Patient experiences may vary.
TIME TO BE FULFILLED
My goal with my doctor is to extend my treatments. We’re slowly ramping up, and it KEEPS ME MOTIVATED TO COME BACK AND STICK TO MY INJECTION SCHEDULE.
Patient experiences may vary.
Alberto
A DME patient being treated with VABYSMO since July 2022
Alberto was reading one day when he noticed certain letters seemed to disappear on the page. He went to his retina specialist, who diagnosed him with DME. After starting treatment with VABYSMO he noticed improvements in his vision. Now with less frequent injections, he is cherishing the moments his improved vision has brought him—like picking apples with his grandson.
My goal with my doctor is to extend my treatments. We’re slowly ramping up, and it KEEPS ME MOTIVATED TO COME BACK AND STICK TO MY INJECTION SCHEDULE.
Patient experiences may vary.
Tell your story—inspire others
If you or a loved one is being treated with VABYSMO, we want to hear from you.
Join our patient ambassador program to share your unique experience. Your story may help educate and inspire other patients on their journeys.*
READY TO MAKE AN IMPACT?
Call or email to learn more about the opportunity to become a patient ambassador.
*All applicants will go through a screening process. If selected for the program, you will be compensated for your involvement and time. Qualified candidates must be 18 years of age or older to participate.