Aranesp, Epogen, and Procrit Articles

Washington, DC: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued new dosing guidelines for ESA (Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents) when the medications are used to treat anemia in patients who have chronic kidney disease. The new dosing guidelines come because FDA has information suggesting that Aranesp side effects and Procrit side effects, when used in patients with chronic kidney disease, could include an increased risk of cardiovascular events.

Washington, DC: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is informing healthcare professionals of modified recommendations for more conservative dosing of Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents (ESAs) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) to improve the safe use of these drugs.

New Brunswick, NJ: A new black box warning announced yesterday by anemia drug maker Amgen comes on the heels of recent data which suggests increased incidence of death, and accelerated tumor growth amongst patients with certain types of cancer.

Chicago, IL: While the jury is still out on the ultimate safety of anemia drugs Procrit and Aranesp, and the potential dangers they allegedly pose for cancer patients, new data from a meta analysis to be published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) suggests the jury will remain aloof for at least another few weeks.

Thousand Oaks, CA: It is a sad state of affairs when drugs designed to make you better actually make you worse, but that is the inference with a trio of anemia drugs commonly given to cancer patients, and individuals suffering from kidney problems. Procrit, Aranesp and Epogen were recently given black box warnings, and now face an FDA panel in March.

Rockville, MD: A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) panel will meet in March to discuss the possibility of restricting sales of drugs including Procrit, Epogen and Aranesp. The drugs are all intended to fight anemia that is caused by chemotherapy; however, their safety has been called into question by recent studies.

Washington, DC: Concern about the incentives to overuse injectable cancer drugs, created by the Medicare reimbursement system that paid a markup of 20% to 100%, caused rates to be changed to more closely align with what doctors actually paid for the drugs, and reimbursement is now supposed to amount to only 6% more than the average price paid by all doctors.

Wastington, DC: The cancer industry derives most of its profits from chemotherapy. Both the drug companies and the treatment providers profit from the chemotherapy drugs and the medications used to combat the side effects. The obscene profits made off chemotherapy override any incentive to find a cure or better treatments.

Thousand Oaks, CA: A company that manufactures a trio of drugs to combat anemia is suffering anemic symptoms of its own, after two new studies have further clouded the safety and effectiveness of Amgen's anemia drugs.

Rockville, MD: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced it is now reviewing new data from studies that show potential risks associated with anemia drugs. Those risks include a more rapid progression of tumor growth in patients with breast cancer or advanced cervical cancers.