FDA Panel: Limit Anemia Drug Prescriptions

Drugs used to treat anemia carry health risks and should only be prescribed to patients with certain types of incurable cancer, a panel of scientists has advised the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The panel's findings apply to popular anemia medications like Aranesp and Procrit. These drugs, called erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), are used in treatment of chemotherapy-associated anemia. According to the Los Angeles Times, Thursday's hearing on the safety and use of ESAs "focused on a growing theory that the drugs might in some instances do more harm than good." In February, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association article linked ESAs to an increased risk of death and blood clots in cancer patients.

• FDA Panel Recommends Limits on Amgen Anemia Drugs (Los Angeles Times)
• FDA Safety Information on ESAs (FDA)
• Defective and Dangerous Products (FindLaw)