• Raptiva®
• Raptiva® Lawyer
• Raptiva® Side Effects
• Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy
• Raptiva® Deaths
• Raptiva® Viral Infections
• Raptiva® Warnings
• Raptiva® Injections
• Raptiva® Medication & Dosing
• Raptiva® Infections
• Raptiva® Prescription
• Raptiva® Efalizumab
• Raptiva® Genentech
• Raptiva® Psoriasis
• Raptiva® Recall
• Raptiva® Lawsuit
• Raptiva® Attorney

Find a Lawyer in Your State

Need Help?

• Accutane®
• Cerebral Palsy
• Darvocet®
• Denture Cream
• Depuy ASR™ Hip Implant
• Fosamax® Femur Fracture
• MiniMed Insulin Pump
• Multaq®
• Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis
• Paxil® Birth Defects
• Propecia®
• Shoulder Pain Pump
• Topamax®
• Truck Accident Lawyer
• Wellbutrin®
• Yaz® Birth Control

Classified as an immunosuppressant medication, Raptiva is a medication that, when injected once a week, can treat the unsightly red patches associated with psoriasis. Raptiva, which was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2003, is made and distributed by Genentech and Merck Serono.

Tragically, however, Raptiva is known to cause a few potentially fatal side effects, including:

• Lymphoma, cancer of the lymph nodes (the glands responsible for filtering harmful substances from the body)
• Meningitis, a bacterial or viral infection that triggers swelling of the brain and/or spinal cord
• Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare brain infection in which a virus causes inflammation of the brain's white matter
• Sepsis, a blood infection

To date, the FDA has received three reports of Raptiva deaths due to PML.

Given the severity of Raptiva side effects, patients injured after taking Raptiva, as well as families surviving deceased Raptiva patients, will be entitled to compensation for their injuries and losses.

Raptiva Deaths: Risk Factors

Patients with the highest risk of developing life-threatening Raptiva side effects include those with a history of:

• Developing chronic bacterial, viral or fungal infections
• Receiving phototherapy (the use of light to treat jaundice, acne, etc.)
• Taking other immunosuppressant medications (such as those prescribed for certain cancers, organ transplants, etc.)

Similarly, having contact with a person who has recently received a "live" vaccine will also increase Raptiva patients' risk of developing potentially fatal health problems.

To reduce the risk of developing serious Raptiva complications, patients should:

• Discuss their complete medical history with their doctor before starting a course of Raptiva
• Understand how to properly use Raptiva medication (Should patients not fully understand how to use this psoriasis drug, they should not inject it)
• Be aware of the types and symptoms of serious Raptiva side effects
• Seek emergency medical care as soon as they notice that they are developing symptoms of Raptiva complications

Genentech Withdraws Raptiva from the U.S. Market

On April 8, 2009, Genentech announced that it was performing a phased withdrawal of Raptiva from the U.S. market. Although the FDA had mandated that Genentech increase the warnings on Raptiva's label twice in the previous six months, it had not yet forced Genentech to pull this drug off the market. Genentech's withdrawal of Raptiva was voluntary.

Currently, about 2,000 Americans use Raptiva. Worldwide, 46,000 people have undergone Raptiva treatments.

Raptiva Lawsuits

Those injured after taking Raptiva, as well as families of deceased Raptiva patients, should meet with a Raptiva lawyer to:

• Learn more about their legal rights
• Find out if they have a case against Genentech
• Learn more about the process of filing and winning a Raptiva lawsuit
• Get estimates regarding possible settlements (based on past awards in cases similar to their own)
• Get advice regarding whether an individual case or a class action suit is more appropriate for their needs and situation

To encourage affected individuals to seek the compensation they deserve, Raptiva lawyers offer these initial consultations for free and work on contingency – so no payment for legal services is due until (or unless) the case is won.

Has your loved one died after taking Raptiva? If so, you should contact our Raptiva lawyer immediately for legal advice and help. You may qualify to recover compensation for your losses.

"Raptiva side effect PML"

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a voluntary Raptiva recall, April 8, 2009. The Psoriasis drug’s manufacturer, Genentech, announced the voluntary Raptiva recall and has begun phasing the drug off the U.S. market. R...

» Read More