On February 4th, the Food and Drug Administration announced that preliminary results from a clinical trial of arthritis drug Xeljanz pointed to an increased risk of developing cancer or serious heart problems. Below, the pharmaceutical liability attorneys at Peter Angelos Law provide a brief overview of the FDA’s new findings and recommendations for patients who may have been affected by the potential side effects of this drug.
FDA’s Preliminary Safety Trial of Xeljanz Shows Increased Risk of Heart Problems and Cancer
The FDA conducted a safety trial to determine any risks associated with Xeljanz and Xeljanz XR, a tofacitinib commonly prescribed to patients suffering from arthritis or ulcerative colitis (UC). When the results of the safety trial were received, they showed an increased risk of developing severe heart problems and cancer. These results were compared to the preliminary results of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, which are prescription drugs that are also used to treat inflammation and inflammatory diseases. Specifically, the results showed a greater occurrence of serious heart-related events and cancer in rheumatoid arthritis patients treated with doses of tofacitinib compared to patients treated with a TNF inhibitor, according to the FDA.
Health Care Professionals are Urged to Weigh the Benefits and Risks Before Prescribing Xeljanz
The FDA is still evaluating the results and are encouraging health care professionals to weigh the pros and cons of treating their patients with Xeljanz and Xeljanz XR as we await the concluding statements on the trial. The FDA also advises that the prescribing information recommendations for tofacitinib continue to be followed.
If you are an arthritis or ulcerative colitis patient who has been taking Xeljanz or Xeljanz XR to treat your condition, and subsequently developed a serious heart condition or cancer after taking Xeljanz, you should contact your health care professional immediately.
Consult the Pharmaceutical Liability Attorneys at Peter Angelos Law to Evaluate Your Case
Big pharma should be held liable for adverse side effects suffered by patients who were not properly informed of the potential side effects of taking prescribed medications. If you reside in the Baltimore area, our pharmaceutical liability attorneys at Peter Angelos Law urge you to consult our team, as you may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the manufacturers of Xeljanz. Our firm is actively taking cases and can provide you exceptional legal assistance for conditions suffered at the hands of the pharmaceutical industry. To learn more about our pharmaceutical liability service area, click here. To contact a member of our firm, call 410.649.2000 or fill out a form here.
Information in this article was taken from the recent FDA press release titled “Initial safety trial results find increased risk of serious heart-related problems and cancer with arthritis and ulcerative colitis medicine Xeljanz, Xeljanz XR (tofacitinib).” To read the full article, click here.