California based drug maker Genentech announced this week the withdrawal of the drug Raptiva from the US market. Raptiva, also known as efalizumab, is used in the treatment of the skin condition psoriasis. The move comes after the FDA noted the deathes of three people from a rare brain disease called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy while taking Raptiva. Genentech estimates about 2,000 patients in the US may currently be using Raptiva. Those who are actively using the medication should stop using it and speak to their physicians about alternative treatment. Raptiva will no longer be available after June 8, 2009.
Read more and share your opinion.
Tags: eflizumab, FDA, Genentech, PML, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, psoriasis, Raptiva
Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.
April 10th, 2009 at 9:48 am
Raptiva will no longer be available after June 8, 2009,,,, Why June and not now????
April 12th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Alabama
April 12th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
I Think all these drugs that really kill people should be taken off the market. The drug companies or “big pharma” has no right to tell us when we can die. They say they want to help us but they are liars and they gloss over their studies and trials of medicines.
April 13th, 2009 at 11:53 am
typical of the FDA ..they keep the usefull meds and herbs off the maket and kill us with the rest.