Susvimo (eye implant for retinal dystrophy)

2021: Market Entry

On October 22, 2021, Genentech announced the market launch of Susvimo eye implant for the treatment of retinal dystrophy. This is a chronic progressive disease of the posterior segment of the eye, characterized by dystrophic processes in the central retina and choroid of the eye. The implant is surgically inserted into the eye during a one-time outpatient procedure and replenished every next six months.

Genentech has developed a 100 mL dose of ranibizumab Susvimo for intravitreal use via an eye implant to treat people with wet or neovascular age-related macular degeneration, a chronic progressive disease of the posterior segment of the eye characterized by dystrophic processes in the central retina and choroid of the eye. Susvimo, formerly Port Delivery System with ranibizumab as of October 25, 2021, is the first and only approved drug for the treatment of wet macular degeneration that offers just two treatments a year, the company said in a press release.

Susvimo Eye Implant for Retinal Dystrophy Entered the Market

Susvimo provides continuous delivery of ranibizumab, a drug containing fragments of monoclonal humanized antibodies to endothelial growth factor A, as an alternative to ocular injections that need to be given once a month.

Susvimo represents a significant achievement in the treatment of retinal diseases and is an important new option for patients with wet macular degeneration. Thanks to the drug, my patients have the opportunity to maintain vision as well as injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, but with a more convenient treatment schedule twice a year, said Dr. Carl Regillo, head of retina at Wills Eye Hospital, in a release.

The study found that patients with wet macular degeneration treated with Susvimo achieved and maintained visual improvement equivalent to monthly ranibizumab injections. Only 1.6% of patients who received the drug received additional ranibizumab treatment before the first replenishment.

According to the developers, the implant was also well tolerated with a favorable benefit-risk profile, but its use was associated with a threefold increase in the incidence of endophthalmitis compared to monthly intravitreal ranibizumab injections. Many of these events have been associated with conjunctival retraction or erosion. In clinical trials, 2% of patients treated with the implant had at least one episode of endophthalmitis.^[1]

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