Panel Recommends Restrictions on Anemia Drugs

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March 14th, 2008

"9 to 5 Vote Recommends No Procrit"

A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel is recommending restrictions on the use of anemia drugs for cancer patients.

The panel recommendation comes in response to growing safety concerns over the risks associated with the anemia drugs Aranesp and Procrit, which are used to counter chemotherapy-induced anemia in cancer patients.

Safety Concerns& Recommendations

Both drugs have been linked to rapid tumor growth and shortened survival in certain patient populations. In a 9 to 5 vote, the panel recommended that Aranesp and Procrit not be used in patients with breast cancer or cancer of the head and neck.

The panel also voted to have patients sign consent forms before taking the drugs. The FDA is not required to heed panel recommendations, though it usually does.

Procrit and Amgen are top selling drugs, bringing in billions of dollars in sales for Johnson & Johnson and Amgen, respectively.

(Source: The New York Times)

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