Our Commitment to Safety

As we innovate, safety comes first at Genentech.

Watch the video below to meet the team keeping an eye on our medicines.

Pharmacovigilance: Big word. Even bigger responsibility.

Monitoring the safety of a drug during clinical trials AND after is called pharmacovigilance. “Pharma” comes from the Greek word “pharmakeia”—for drugs, medicines, or remedies. “Vigilance” is from the Latin “vigilantia,” meaning wakefulness, watchfulness, or attention.

Pharmacovigilance: Big word. Even bigger responsibility

Monitoring the safety of a drug during clinical trials AND after is called pharmacovigilance. “Pharma” comes from the Greek word “pharmakeia”—for drugs, medicines, or remedies. “Vigilance” is from the Latin “vigilantia,” meaning wakefulness, watchfulness, or attention.

There are 3 key components to pharmacovigilance:

MONITORING

At Genentech, over 2000 employees monitor and analyze reports of adverse events from healthcare providers and people like you.

An adverse event is any concerning issue that arises when someone is taking a medication, even if the connection between the event and the medication is not obvious.

INVESTIGATING

We partner with the community to collect global data that are studied in aggregate to look for patterns. This gives us the clearest, most robust, and constantly evolving picture of how a drug is working in a real-world setting.

Every adverse event report is thoroughly reviewed, and follow-up is performed if more information is needed to fully analyze it.

COMMUNICATING

If we identify that the balance of benefit to risk of a medicine has changed, we proactively notify the FDA and determine if the medication's package insert or label should be updated. These updates are then shared with healthcare professionals and the community.

Reporting adverse events

Help us stay vigilant. If you or someone you know experiences an adverse event while taking a Genentech medication, inform your healthcare professional and contact Genentech right away.

Adverse events may be reported to Genentech at (888) 835-2555. You may also report adverse events to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

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Connect With Your Local Team

Our Genentech Account and Community Managers (ACMs) serve all 50 states and US territories. They offer one-on-one support and have a host of helpful resources—and they can provide opportunities to connect with Genentech and the community at chapter events, conferences, and educational programs.

Account and Community Managers do not provide medical advice.

Please enter your ZIP Code below.