This grade answers one narrow question: how strong is the public evidence and safety record behind this drug, and how clean is its money trail and court record? It is not a verdict on whether the drug is right for you.
WARNING: ENDOPHTHALMITIS The SUSVIMO implant has been associated with an up to 3-fold higher rate of endophthalmitis than monthly intravitreal injections of ranibizumab. Many of these events were associated with conjunctival retractions or erosions. Appropriate conjunctiva management and early detection with surgical repair of conjunctival retractions or erosions may reduce the risk of endophthalmitis. [see Contraindications (4.1) , Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] . WARNING: ENDOPHTHALMITIS See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. The SUSVIMO implant has been associated with an up to 3-fold higher rate of endophthalmitis than monthly intravitreal injections of ranibizumab.
(ranibizumab injection) is a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor indicated for the treatment of patients with: Neovascular (wet) Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) who have previously responded to at least two intravitreal injections of a VEGF inhibitor ( 1.1 ). Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) who have previously responded to at least two intravitreal injections of a VEGF inhibitor ( 1.2 ). Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) who have previously responded to at least two intravitreal injections of a VEGF inhibitor ( 1.3 ). 1.1 Neovascular (wet) Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) SUSVIMO (ranibizumab injection) is indicated for the treatment of patients with Neovascular (wet) Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) who have previously responded to at least two intravitreal injections of a Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) inhibitor medication. 1.2 Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) SUSVIMO (ranibizumab injection) is indicated for the treatment of patients with Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) who have previously responded to at least two intravitreal injections of a Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) inhibitor medication. 1.3 Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) SUSVIMO (ranibiz...
Ocular or periocular infections ( 4.1 ) Active intraocular inflammation ( 4.2 ) Hypersensitivity ( 4.3 ) 4.1 Ocular or Periocular Infections SUSVIMO (ranibizumab injection) is contraindicated in patients with ocular or periocular infections. 4.2 Active Intraocular Inflammation SUSVIMO (ranibizumab injection) is contraindicated in patients with active intraocular inflammation. 4.3 Hypersensitivity SUSVIMO (ranibizumab injection) is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to ranibizumab products or any of the excipients in SUSVIMO (ranibizumab injection).
The SUSVIMO implant and/or implant-related procedures have been associated with endophthalmitis, rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, implant dislocation, septum dislodgement, vitreous hemorrhage, conjunctival erosion, conjunctival retraction, and conjunctival blebs. Patients should be instructed to report any signs or symptoms that could be associated with these events without delay. In some cases, these events can present asymptomatically. The implant and the tissue overlying the implant flange should be monitored routinely following the implant insertion, and refill-exchange procedures to permit early medical or surgical intervention as necessary. Special precautions need to be taken when handling SUSVIMO components [see How Supplied/Storage and Handling (16.3) ]. The SUSVIMO implant and/or implant-related procedures have been associated with endophthalmitis, rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, implant dislocation, septum dislodgement, vitreous hemorrhage, conjunctival retraction, conjunctival erosion, and conjunctival bleb. Patients should be instructed to report signs or symptoms that could be associated with these events without delay. Additional surgical and/or medical manageme...
The following adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in other sections of the label: Endophthalmitis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Implant Dislocation [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Septum Dislodgement [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] Vitreous Hemorrhage [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] Conjunctival Erosion or Retraction [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ] Conjunctival Bleb [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] Postoperative Decrease in Visual Acuity [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8) ] The most common adverse reactions (≥ 10%) were conjunctival hemorrhage, conjunctival hyperemia, iritis, eye pain, conjunctival disorder, cataract and vitreous hemorrhage. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Genentech at 1-888-835-2555 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in one clinical trial of a drug cannot be directly compared with rates in the clinical trials of the same or another drug and may not reflect the rates observe...
Indications and Usage, Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) ( 1.2 ) 2/2025 Indications and Usage, Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) ( 1.3 ) 5/2025 Dosage and Administration ( 2.3 , 2.9 , 2.10 ) 5/2025 Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 , 5.5 , 5.6 , 5.7 , 5.8 ) 5/2025 Warnings and Precautions ( 5.9 ) 9/2025
Source: FDA SPL label for Susvimo (Genentech, Inc.), effective 20251121. Full label on DailyMed.
These are counts of reports people filed, not rates of harm. Anyone can file one, and nobody checks whether the drug was the cause. Millions of doses are taken for every report sent, so the useful part is how this drug compares with the average across all drugs.
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,308 | 1,275 | 1,048 | 876 | 765 | 1,259 | 507 | 209 |
Source: the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports are voluntary and unverified. Drugs that are prescribed a lot, in the news, or in lawsuits attract more reports, so the percentages are compared with the whole database to correct for that partly, not fully.
| Date | Class | Firm | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/2022 | Class III | Genentech Inc | Defective Delivery System: Commercial implants do not meet the filed specification for the intended use, a few patients have experienced an issue with the implants that renders it non-functioning. |
Class I = reasonable probability of serious harm. Class II = temporary or reversible harm. Class III = unlikely to harm. Most generic recalls are manufacturing or labeling defects for one lot, not a verdict on the molecule.
Counts measure how much evidence exists and how transparent it is, not how big the benefit is. For that, ask your prescriber: if 100 people like me took this, how many would get better because of it, and how many would be harmed? (Doctors call these the "number needed to treat" and "number needed to harm.") It differs by condition and is the number drug ads leave out. Sources: PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov.
In 2024, drug companies reported $392,063 in payments to US physicians and hospitals tied to this drug across 788 transactions (Susvimo $380,157, Lucentis $11,907).
No pending federal MDL names this drug or its brands.
Not named in any federal pharmaceutical settlement of $100M or more on record.
Sources: CMS Open Payments (Sunshine Act); Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation pending docket list; DOJ settlements as tabulated on Wikipedia with links to the primary record. State-court and individual suits are not included.
2 drugs in the same class grade a letter or more higher than ranibizumab on this site. Worth asking whether one of them would do the same job for you.
Same ATC pharmacological class, graded ones first, best grade at the top. Being in the same class does not make them interchangeable for your condition; it makes them worth asking about.