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Epogen
Injured by Epogen?
On November 30, 2006, reports came out that two studies in this month’s New England Journal of Medicine have called into question the overuse of drugs in the treatment of anemia in kidney patients. Amgen’s Epogen and Johnson and Johnson’s Procrit, are the two most common anemia drugs which are at the center of the controversy, as researchers try to determine whether they’ve been over-prescribed by medical professionals. Sales of anemia drugs are nearing $10 billion annually. Epogen (Generic: Epoetin alfa) was approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on July 26, 1999.According to the above studies, Scientists established that anemic kidney patients are susceptible to heart problems or death when aggressively treated with Epogen or other anemia drugs. The drugs are intended to boost hemoglobin in anemic patients, but the increase in hemoglobin is apparently associated with other serious risks. Prior to the arrival of these anemia treatments, patients had to undergo transfusions to keep their red blood cell counts at healthy levels. The new drugs have been very successful in boosting red blood cell counts, but the fear today is that doctors have become too reliant on the drugs and that they aren’t sufficiently aware of the risks related to boosting hemoglobin (a main component of red blood cells) in kidney patients, which can include heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure.
Legal help for Epogen Users
If you or a loved has taken Epogen and suffered heart problems or death, please fill out the form at the right for a free case evaluation from a qualified defective drugs attorney.
EpogenRSS Feed
Study Says Genetic Tests May Predict if Procrit, Aranesp or Epogen Will Speed Tumor Growth
Jun 3, 2008 | Parker Waichman Alonso LLP
Some cancer patients treated with the anemia drugs Procrit, Aranesp and Epogen could experience increased tumor growth. However, researcher recently reported that there may be a way to predict which cancer patients are at risk for this devastating side effect.Procrit, Aranesp and Epogen are known as an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA). All are made by Amgen, but Procrit is sold by Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Ortho Biotech under a licensing agreement. ESAs are a...
Congress Investigates Procrit, Epogen and Aranesp Marketing
Apr 2, 2008 | Parker Waichman Alonso LLP
Two members of Congress are looking into to allegations that the marketing of Procrit, Aranesp and Epogen encouraged overuse of the anemia drugs, placing some patients in danger. Reps. John Dingell and Bart Stupak, both Michigan Democrats, sent letters to Amgen and Johnson & Johnson on Monday, suggesting their marketing campaigns for Procrit, Aranesp and Epogen convinced physicians to prescribe the drugs at unsafe dosages. Procrit, Aranesp and Epogen are known as an...
Procrit, Aranesp, Epogen Should Be Allowed for Cancer Patients, With Some Restrictions, FDA Panel Says
Mar 13, 2008 | Parker Waichman Alonso LLP
An advisory panel has weighed in on the safety issues surrounding Procrit, Aranesp and Epogen, anemia drugs used to treat chemotherapy patients and others. While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel did not call on the agency to rescind the approval of Procrit, Aranesp and Epogen to treat cancer patients, it did recommend more limited restrictions on the drugs. Procrit, Aranesp and Epogen are known as an erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA). All are made by...
Procrit, Aranesp, Epogen Could be Restricted by FDA
Mar 12, 2008 | Parker Waichman Alonso LLP
Procrit, Aranesp and Epogen, anemia drugs used to treat chemotherapy patients, could soon have new restrictions imposed on them by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Late last week, the FDA announced a new black box warning for Procrit, Aranesp and Epogen regarding their association with shortened survival and increased tumor growth in some cancer patients. Now there is speculation that the FDA is getting ready to rescind it approval of Procrit, Aranesp and Procrit to treat...
Aranesp, Epogen, Procrit Get Another Black Box Warning
Mar 10, 2008 | Parker Waichman Alonso LLP
Aranesp, Epogen and Procrit, drugs used to treat anemia in patients undergoing chemotherapy, will soon bear new black box warnings that they may shorten survival time in patients with certain types of tumors. Amgen's Aranesp and Epogen, and Johnson & Johnson's Procrit, have been under scrutiny for some time after several studies showed some patients treated with the drugs die sooner than others. In addition to the warning on survival time, the new black box warning for Aranesp,...
Defective Drugs
Quick Facts
Epogen Reference Guide
Generic Name
Epoetin alfa
Date Approved
July 26, 1999
Manufacturer
Amgen
Status
On the market
Approved Uses
Anemia
Serious Side Effects
Heart attacks
Stroke
Death
High blood pressure
Related Topics
Heart Attacks
Stroke
Procrit
Diseases
Defective Drugs
Epoetin alfa
Date Approved
July 26, 1999
Manufacturer
Amgen
Status
On the market
Approved Uses
Anemia
Serious Side Effects
Heart attacks
Stroke
Death
High blood pressure
Related Topics
Heart Attacks
Stroke
Procrit
Diseases
Defective Drugs
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