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For Healthcare Professionals

Real Patient Stories

Meet Matt and Marsha, 2 patients from the Erivedge clinical study

Matt’s Treatment Journey

Matt was diagnosed with locally advanced basal cell carcinoma behind his ear. Learn about his experience and results with Erivedge.

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Baseline basal cell carcinoma lesion behind ear of patient treated with Erivedge

Marsha’s Treatment Journey

Marsha was diagnosed with locally advanced basal cell carcinoma on the mid-shin of her left leg. Learn about her experience and results with Erivedge.

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Baseline basal cell carcinoma lesion on shin of patient treated with Erivedge

Matt, age 54

Locally advanced basal cell carcinoma behind his ear

Baseline Baseline basal cell carcinoma lesion behind ear of patient treated with Erivedge
Week 24 Basal cell carcinoma lesion behind ear after 24 weeks of treatment with Erivedge

Matt’s history of basal cell carcinoma

  • He was first diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma in 1987

What made Matt eligible for Erivedge?

  • He was not a candidate for surgery or radiation therapy

Matt’s treatment journey with Erivedge

  • He started treatment with Erivedge in February 2010 and was treated for 9.6 months

    • In the Erivedge clinical study, the median duration of treatment was 10.2 months (range, 0.7 to 18.7 months)

    • He continued on treatment as of the data cutoff in November 2010

How effective was Erivedge for Matt?

  • He experienced a complete response, which means he had no evidence of basal cell carcinoma at Week 24 of treatment 

What side effects did Matt experience?

  • He experienced hair loss, a change in how things taste, muscle spasms, nausea, and weight loss

Photos are from a real patient. Patient may have had other lesions besides the one shown here. Individual results may vary.

Descriptions are based on study investigator assessments. Case studies show results of treatment in specific patients. These cases are for general informational purposes only and are not intended to replace medical advice or your doctor’s medical judgment when it comes to your treatment. Although not shown here, patients with metastatic basal cell carcinoma also participated in the Erivedge clinical study.

Marsha, age 75

Locally advanced basal cell carcinoma on the mid-shin of her left leg

Baseline Baseline basal cell carcinoma lesion on shin of patient treated with Erivedge
Week 24 Basal cell carcinoma lesion on shin after 24 weeks of treatment with Erivedge

Marsha’s history of basal cell carcinoma

  • She was first diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma in 1990

What made Marsha eligible for Erivedge?

  • She was not a candidate for surgery or radiation therapy

Marsha’s treatment journey with Erivedge

  • She started treatment with Erivedge in November 2009 and was treated for 12.5 months

    • In the Erivedge clinical study, the median duration of treatment was 10.2 months (range, 0.7 to 18.7 months)

    • She continued on treatment as of the data cutoff in November 2010

What were Marsha’s results with Erivedge?

  • She experienced a non-response, which means she still had evidence of basal cell carcinoma at Week 24 of treatment 

What side effects did Marsha experience?

  • She experienced a decrease in appetite, reduced sense of taste, muscle spasms, and weight loss

Photos are from a real patient. Individual results may vary.

Descriptions are based on study investigator assessments. Case studies show results of treatment in specific patients. These cases are for general informational purposes only and are not intended to replace medical advice or your doctor’s medical judgment when it comes to your treatment. Although not shown here, patients with metastatic basal cell carcinoma also participated in the Erivedge clinical study.

NEXT: How to take Erivedge

Important Safety Information and Indication

Indication

Erivedge® (vismodegib) capsule is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with a type of skin cancer, called basal cell carcinoma, that has spread to other parts of the body or that has come back after surgery or that your healthcare provider decides cannot be treated with surgery or radiation.

It is not known if Erivedge is safe and effective in children.

Serious Side Effects

Erivedge can cause your baby to die before it is born (be stillborn) or cause your baby to have severe birth defects.

Important Safety Information

What is the most important information I should know about Erivedge?
Erivedge can cause your baby to die before it is born (be stillborn) or cause your baby to have severe birth defects.

For females who can become pregnant:

  • You should talk with your healthcare provider about the risks of Erivedge to your unborn child
  • Your healthcare provider will do a pregnancy test within 7 days before you start taking Erivedge
  • In order to avoid pregnancy, you should use birth control during treatment and for 24 months after your final dose of Erivedge. Talk with your healthcare provider about what birth control method is right for you during this time
  • Talk to your healthcare provider right away if you have unprotected sex or if you think that your birth control has failed
  • Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think that you may be pregnant

For males:

  • Erivedge is present in semen. Do not donate semen while you are taking Erivedge and for 3 months after your final dose
  • You should always use a condom, even if you have had a vasectomy, during sex with female partners who are pregnant or who are able to become pregnant, during treatment with Erivedge, and for 3 months after your final dose to protect your female partner from being exposed to Erivedge
  • Tell your healthcare provider right away if your partner becomes pregnant or thinks she is pregnant while you are taking Erivedge

Pregnancy Exposure Registry:

There is a Pregnancy Exposure Registry for females taking Erivedge who become pregnant. The purpose of this registry is to monitor the health of you and your unborn baby. If you think that you or your female partner may have been exposed to Erivedge during pregnancy, talk to your healthcare provider right away. If you become pregnant during treatment with Erivedge, you or your healthcare provider should report your pregnancy to Genentech at (888) 835-2555.

Before taking Erivedge, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including:

  • If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
  • If you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Erivedge passes into your breast milk. You should not breastfeed during treatment and for 24 months after your final dose of Erivedge. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby during this time
  • About all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements

What should I avoid while taking Erivedge?

  • Do not donate blood or blood products while you are taking Erivedge and for 24 months after your final dose
  • Do not donate semen while you are taking Erivedge and for 3 months after your final dose

What are the possible side effects of Erivedge?

  • Severe skin reactions: Severe skin reactions have happened in some people taking Erivedge. You may need to be treated in a hospital because these severe skin reactions can be life-threatening or lead to death

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any of the following signs or symptoms of a severe skin reaction, including:

  • Blisters or peeling of your skin
  • Blisters on your lip, or around your mouth or eyes
  • Mouth sores or genital sores
  • High fever or flu-like symptoms
  • Enlarged lymph nodes
  • Skin pain and burning

Your healthcare provider may permanently stop Erivedge if you develop a severe skin reaction.

  • Muscle problems: Muscle problems are common with Erivedge, but can also sometimes be serious. Erivedge can increase your risk of muscle spasms or muscle pain. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any new or worsening muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness during or after treatment with Erivedge. Your healthcare provider should do a blood test to check for muscle problems and to check your kidney function before you start taking Erivedge, and as needed during treatment if you develop muscle problems
  • Bone growth problems: Bone growth problems have happened in children who have been exposed to Erivedge. These problems may continue even after stopping treatment with Erivedge
  • The most common side effects of Erivedge are:
    • Muscle spasms
    • Hair loss
    • Change in how things taste or loss of taste
    • Weight loss
    • Tiredness
    • Nausea
    • Diarrhea
    • Decreased appetite
    • Constipation
    • Joint pain
    • Vomiting

Erivedge can cause absence of menstrual periods (amenorrhea) in females who are able to become pregnant. It is not known if amenorrha is permanent. Talk to your healthcare provided if you have concerns about fertility. 

These are not all of the possible side effects of Erivedge. Because everyone is different, it is not possible to predict what side effects any one person will have or how severe they may be. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. 

You may report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835-2555. 

Please see full Prescribing Information for additional Important Safety Information, including serious side effects, and the Medication Guide.