• ‘All Eyes on DME’ campaign aims to educate and empower people impacted by or at-risk for diabetic macular edema (DME)—a serious, common and often overlooked eye condition
• People of color are 2-3x more likely to develop significant vision conditions from diabetes, making it critical to address this urgent disparity

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROP; OTCQX: RHHBY), announced the launch of All Eyes on DME, a campaign developed in partnership with advocacy group, diaTribe, that harnesses the power of humor to destigmatize and bring attention to diabetes-related vision conditions.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260424994009/en/

All Eyes on DME Community Event: Damon Wayans, Spokesperson

The multi-channel campaign features Damon Wayans’ iconic humor and personal diabetes journey, as well as patient perspectives to create a powerful cultural connection and drive actionable conversations about protecting vision from a serious, yet often-overlooked eye condition.

Damon Wayans, Type 2 Diabetes Patient and Comedian

“Laughter is a powerful medicine. Of course, a few jokes can’t cure DME, but when we find humor in tough situations, it can be easier to engage in important conversations. As a Black man living with diabetes and a family history of related health conditions, I am very familiar with the hesitancy to open up about health. I also didn’t originally understand the risk of vision loss with diabetes, which is why I want to use this opportunity to break down those walls and create space for us to educate and learn from each other. I'm energized to join All Eyes on DME and get our community talking, laughing and learning together.”

Why Taking Action Matters

DME currently affects 750,000 people in the U.S. and is a leading cause of vision loss among people with diabetes, but this burden is not shared equally. People of color are two to three times more likely to experience sight-threatening diabetes-related conditions like DME, and around 60% of Americans living with diabetes skip or miss their recommended annual eye exams, entirely. With the number of Americans with diabetes projected to reach 55 million by 2030 and the risk of DME rising significantly as the length of time with diabetes increases, vision loss within at-risk communities represents an escalating public health issue that can be addressed through early action and treatment discussions with a doctor.

Resources to Make Vision Health a Priority

All Eyes on DME features firsthand accounts from Damon Wayans, alongside other individuals living with diabetes, who share their personal journeys managing the disease and the critical importance of proactive vision care. On AllEyesonDME.com, people impacted by and at-risk for DME can find:

• Information on DME symptoms, risk factors, and causes
• Patient and caregiver tools to prepare for productive conversations with doctors
• Real patient stories and perspectives on how to prioritize vision health

Matthew Garza, Program Director, diaTribe

“For many living with diabetes, eye health can sometimes take a backseat due to a lack of awareness and lack of access to the tools that prevent and treat diabetes-related eye complications. That’s why we are creating a movement to destigmatize diabetes and vision health. By co-creating authentic content with the diabetes community, and using the strength of laughter to spark dialogue, our goal is to uplift people to take early action and work together with their care team to monitor their eye health so they can address this chronic condition.”

Quita Highsmith, Vice President of Population Health at Genentech

“Closing gaps in health outcomes requires listening to the lived experiences of our community to uncover the real barriers to eye care. We are igniting a crucial conversation with this campaign, and we will build on this foundation to ensure those who are impacted by or at-risk for DME have the knowledge and access to protect their eye health.”

All Eyes on DME builds on Genentech’s heritage of focusing on patient needs and meeting them where they are, with an over 20-year legacy in ophthalmology focused on advancing the future of vision care.

Visit AllEyesonDME.com to find resources, learn the risks, and get tips for speaking with a doctor about DME.

About Genentech in Ophthalmology

Genentech is researching and developing new treatments for people living with a range of eye diseases that cause significant visual impairment and blindness, including wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic macular edema (DME), diabetic retinopathy (DR), geographic atrophy (GA) and other retinal conditions, including rare and inherited conditions.

About Genentech

Founded 50 years ago, Genentech is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes medicines to treat patients with serious and life-threatening medical conditions. The company, a member of the Roche Group, has headquarters in South San Francisco, California. For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.gene.com.

^{Damon Wayans is a paid spokesperson for Genentech on behalf of the All Eyes on DME campaign.}

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260424994009/en/

“Laughter is a powerful medicine. Of course, a few jokes can’t cure DME, but when we find humor in tough situations, it can be easier to engage in important conversations."