Eideard

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The government is warning that taking the psoriasis drug Raptiva could result in serious brain infection and even death.

The Food and Drug Administration cited three confirmed cases, and a possible fourth, of people diagnosed with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) after being treated with Raptiva.

“Three of those patients have died,” the FDA said in a public health advisory. “All four patients were treated with the drug for more than three years…”

Raptiva’s product labeling was revised in October to highlight a boxed warning about the risks of life-threatening infections, including PML.

“At that time, the FDA directed Genentech, the manufacturer, to develop a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) to include a medication guide to educate patients about the drug’s risks,” the FDA’s advisory says.

Scary stuff.

I had an Uncle who suffered from Psoriasis off and on. Didn’t kill him, though. Drinking did that.