Raptiva Drug Recall
Defective Drug Raptiva Recalled for Links to Fatal Brain Infection
Pharmaceutical company Genentech Inc. is recalling the defective drug Raptiva, which is used to treat psoriasis because of the drug's links to a fatal brain infection, according to a news report in the San Francisco Chronicle. This voluntary drug recall from San Francisco-based Genentech comes six months after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated labeling for the drug to warn consumers about Raptiva's links to a rare nervous system disorder called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy or PML. So far, there are three known confirmed fatal cases of PML in patients taking Raptiva. One other patient who was taking the drug developed similar neurological symptoms and died of an unknown cause, FDA officials said.
Genentech officials are saying that about 2,000 patients suffering from psoriasis, a skin and joint disorder, are taking the drug defective drug Raptiva here in the U.S. and about 46,000 patients worldwide have taken it since Raptiva's introduction in 2003. The drug accounted for $108 million in sales in 2008 for Genentech. The company is now saying that physicians should stop writing new prescriptions for the drug and that Raptiva will no longer be available after June 8. Patients are asked to consult their doctors before stopping the drug altogether because suddenly stopping it can lead to a worsening of their psoriasis.
Genentech first identified Raptiva's connection to the fatal brain infection in October after a 70-year-old patient died. That was when the labeling was updated to include the warning about PML. In February, the number of deaths rose to four. That has led to the company's decision to recall the drug altogether.
It is a known fact that most medicines have side effects. The FDA requires that all drug makers provide detailed information to consumers about the drugs they are taking so that consumers can make an informed decision about their course of treatment or choice of drugs. However, in the case of this particular drug, the so-called side effect has resulted in deaths! This is unacceptable. It is unbelievable and appalling that the drug maker received federal approval for Raptiva, put it in the market and made millions in profits over the last six years at the expense of consumers' lives.
It is frightening to think that this drug is only now being linked to PML in psoriasis patients. How many fatal pharmaceutical cases occurred over the last six years where the links to Raptiva had been overlooked? How many lives could have been saved had the fatal brain infection been linked to this drug right away? It's tragic!
Bisnar | Chase has represented and continues to represent consumers who have either suffered lifelong heath problems or have been killed because of dangerous drug effects in Raptiva. If you or a loved one has suffered adverse drug reactions as a result of taking Raptiva and would like to be kept advised of further developments or discuss your legal options, call my office. We will be happy to answer your questions and/or put you on a list to update you with information.
Our source for this blog is a news report in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Comments
What I am finding tragic is that I injected the drug throughthe end of May because I was never contacted by anyone. My daughter came home for a doctor appt where they were discussing family history and it was menteion that I was on Rativa injection, the Dr. said that can't be so, they drug has been recalled. I then went online and was in shock of what I was reading. I was never notified by genentech, Medco was my drug supplier, the filled my script in March and April and were late calling in May's but I had 8 doses in storage from when I stopped taking last year while sick. I had to get back on it because PS was coming back worse than ever in new areas. Medco never told me anything but the shocker was my Dr not calling me on this. As a matter of fact when the dr office called me back they told me to continue to take what I had and they would see me in August. The meds that Medco supplied were still the old package without the boxed label warning in them and this was the last week of april(still have 2 months worth).
The entire notifacation system failed for me and it pisses me off because I have only been taking about a year, I skipped 2 months and would have stopped taking this stuff last Oct when I had only 4 months on it. Even getting off it in april when the recall went out would have saved me 25 less injections. So far i am on meds for an infection and after being off raptiva for 4 weeks it is storming back across my entire boby when prior to raptiva it was limited to my elbows, knees, hands. The part that worries me is other side effects hit me down the road,I assume there is a time limit for which genentech can be held accountable? What happens 5 years from now the PML virus agent become active and I don't have insurance?
bob
Posted by: bob | June 22, 2009 2:46 PM