Avastin one of the new generation of gentler cancer drugs according to a report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association called for a “black box” warning — the FDA’s strongest, according to USA Today
— the Nov. 18 report was an analysis of studies on the drug Avastin, which is approved for breast, colon and lung cancer patients.
In the new report, scientists found that about 12% of patients using Avastin developed potentially life-threatening blood clots, giving them a rate of blood clots that was 30% higher than the rate among cancer patients not using the drug. Blood clots can be dangerous because they can block blood flow completely, causing tissue death or a pulmonary embolism that cuts off the patient’s oxygen.
Blood clots are a common problem among cancer patients, according to the newspaper — but evidence from this study shows that they are more common among cancer patients using Avastin. Because the clots are potentially life-threatening, the study’s authors called for an FDA “black box” warning about the risk for patients and their doctors. A spokesperson for Avastin’s maker, Genentech, demurred, pointing out that the FDA already runs a warning about the risk of blood clots on the drug’s label.
As a Missouri defective drug attorney, I hope patients take that warning seriously. In our prescription drugs practice at the Lowe Law Firm, we represent patients of all kinds who have been seriously hurt by prescription drugs that had serious dangerous side effects. In many cases, we have been able to prove that the manufacturer knew about the problem in advance but didn’t disclose it publicly — sometimes, not until after an aggressive marketing campaign. This dishonest behavior betrays the patients and doctors who trust drug makers, and puts patients in serious danger.
At the Lowe Law Firm, we help victims of this dishonest behavior hold manufacturers legally liable for their actions. To speak with one of our experienced defective drug attorneys about your own case and your legal options, please contact us online or call us toll-free at 1-877-678-3400.
